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Thus：
Strive for too many honours ends up with no honour。
Do not wish to be a shining jade； just be an ordinary rock。
40
Tao moves in cycles。
Tao uses the soft and weak to reveal the truth。
All things in the world are born from being； and
Being （the named） is born from non…being （the unnamed）。
41
When Tao is heard by a man of high intellect；
He practices it with diligence。
When Tao is heard by a man of average intellect；
He follows it half…heartedly。
When Tao is heard by a man of no intellect；
He will have a hearty laugh at it。
And it would not be Tao without being laughed at。
Thus there is the accepted saying：
The bright way appears dark； the progressive way； regressive； and the smooth way； uneven。
The high virtue appears hollow； the purest white； tinted； the far…reaching virtue； inadequate； the firm virtue；
lax； and the real quality； wanting。
The greatest square appears cornerless； the great talent； the last to be recognized； the great music； devoid of
appealing sound； and the great image； formless。
Tao is hidden and nameless；
Yet only Tao is capable of helping all to succeed in life。
42
Tao created the One；
The One produced the Two；
The two produced the Three；
And the Three produced all things。
All things carry the Yin （female） and embrace the Yang （male）；
Harmony is achieved through interaction of these prime energies。
People hate to be orphans； widowers； or being destitute；
Yet kings and barons call themselves by these terms。
Thus：
One my gain by losing first； and
One my lose by gaining first。
What people teach I can also teach。
揂 violent person would not die a natural death；？br》 Shall be my first lesson。
43
The softest thing in the world is galloping inside of the hardest；
The invisible substance is entering media having no space。
I therefore learn the benefits of taking no action。
Lessons without words and the value of taking no action；
There are few rivals in the world。
44
Fame or life； which is more precious？
Life or wealth； which is more important？
Gain or loss； which is more harmful？
An obsession for possession is doomed to be costly；
An excessive hoarding for profits is sure to incur heavy losses。
He who is contented loses no honour；
He who knows when to stop encounters no danger；
He can thus long endure。
45
A perfect tool appears defective； but； it shows no impairment in operation。
A great abundance appears empty； but； it is inexhaustible in consumption。
A truly straight edge appears crooked；
A great cleverness appears clumsy；
A great orator appears tight tongued。
Vigorous exercise overcomes cold；
Calm quietude overcomes heat。
Clear heads and calm minds can right the world。
46
When Tao prevails in the world；
Horses walk in the field to fertilize。
When Tao is missing in the world；
Military horses give births in the suburbs。
No guilt is greater than insatiable desires；
No misfortune is greater than mindless discontent；
No sin is greater than uncontrollable greed。
Therefore；
He who knows the contentment of being contented；
Will always be contented。
47
Without stepping out of the door；
He knows what the world is like。
Without looking out of the window；
He understands the way of Heaven。
The farther he travels；
The less he learns。
So the Sage：
Knows without traveling；
Understands situations without seeing； and
Succeeds without taking action。
48
Pursuing learning； one needs to learn more every day。
Practicing Tao； one needs to do less every day。
Less and even less； one reaches a state of taking no action。
Taking no action but nothing is left undone。
Taking over an empire must always be a nonevent。
If eventful； it is unworthy of taking over the empire。
49
A wise ruler has no preconceived ideas；
He adopts the people抯 ideas as his own。
I treat good people with goodness；
I treat bad people also with goodness。
This is the virtue of goodness。
I deal with honest people with honesty；
I deal with dishonest people also with honesty。
This is the virtue of honesty。
For the benefit of the world； the wise ruler harmonizes all ideas。
（The people pay attention to him through ears and eyes；）
And he treats them all like his children。
50
From birth to death；
Three out of ten follow the path of life；
Three out of ten follow the path of death； also
Three out of ten who follow the path of life may move into path of death。
Why is that？ Because they over strive in their lives。
I heard that he who excels in self…preservation：
Meets no tiger or rhinoceros while walking on land；
Escapes harm while fighting in wars。
And he encounters：
No rhinoceros butting its horn against him；
No tiger exerting its claws against him；
No soldier thrusting his knife against him。
Why is this so？
Because he is not on the path of death。
51
Tao creates all things；
Virtue nurtures them。
Matter gives them forms； and
Environment allows them to succeed。
Thus all things honour Tao and value Virtue。
Tao being honoured and Virtue being valued；
They always occurred naturally without being dictated by anyone。
Thus：
Tao creates all thing。
Virtue nurtures them：
They grow and develop；
Bear fruits and mature； and
Are cared for and protected。
To create； but not to possess；
To care for； but not to control；
To lead； but not to subjugate。
This is called the profound virtue。
52
The world had its beginning；
Which is known as the mother of the world。
Once the mother is known； her sons may be understood。
Once the sons are understood； still keep to the mother。
Then you will avoid mistakes all your life。
Close your apertures； shut your doors；
You will live a life without toil；
Open your apertures； meddle in distractions；
You will live a life beyond salvation。
Capable of seeing details is called clear vision；
Capable of yielding is called strength。
Using the innate light； recover your clear vision。
Then you will not be exposed to hidden danger。
This is called following the nature。
53
Grant me the subtle wisdom； that
I will follow the broad way and be fearful of straying away。
The broad way is flat； yet people still indulge in shortcuts。
The palace is quite splendid； but
The fields are quite desolate； and
The granaries quite empty。
（The rulers are）
Wearing beautiful clothes；
Carrying sharp swords；
Bored of feasts； and
Accumulating excessive wealth and treasures。
These are chieftains of robbers； and
No behaving according to Tao！
54
A person who excels in building does not uproot；
A person who excels in embracing doe