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No behaving according to Tao！
54
A person who excels in building does not uproot；
A person who excels in embracing does not deviate；
And their descendants do not interrupt ancestral worship。
Cultivate it in an individual； his virtue is genuine；
Cultivate it in a family； its virtue overflows；
Cultivate it in a community； its virtues multiply；
Cultivate it in a state； its virtue is abundant；
Cultivate it in the world； its virtue is universal。
Therefore； evaluate the virtue of：
An individual on the basis of the individual；
A family on the basis of the family；
A community o the basis of the community；
A state on the basis of the state；
The world on the basis of the world。
How do I know the situation of the world？ By this。
55
The abundant virtue of a person；
May be compared to that of an infant：
Poisonous insects do not sting him；
Wild beats do not grab him；
Birds of prey do not claw him。
Though he has weak bones and soft sinews； his grip is firm。
Despite his ignorance of union of male and female； his organ is often erect。
This demonstrates his highest essence。
He cries all day without becoming hoarse。
This shows his utmost harmony with Nature。
To know the harmony with Nature is to know the truth；
To know the truth is enlightenment。
Over indulging in life produces ill consequences；
Ceding control of vital energy to emotion leads to violence。
Everything decays after its prime。
These （over indulging； ceding control to emotion） would be counter to Tao；
Whoever acts counter to Tao spells his early demise。
56
He who knows the truth does not brag；
He who brags does not know the truth。
Closing the apertures； Shutting the doors；
Blunting the sharpness； Resolving inner conflicts；
Softening brightness； and
Harmonizing with the dusty world；
He is then in profound harmony with Tao。
Thus he is no longer：
Affected by being close to； or
Bothered by being distant from others；
Touched by gains； or
Influenced by losses
Tempted by nobleness； or
Shamed by lowliness。
Therefore he is respected by the world。
57
Govern a state by fair rules。
Conduct military operations by surprise strategies。
Take over an empire as a nonevent。
How do I know these should be so？
Because：
The more prohibitions proliferate； the poorer the people；
The more sharp weapons people possess； the more chaotic the state；
The more cunning people become； the more abnormal the society；
The more laws promulgate； the more robbers and thieves appear。
Thus a wise ruler says：
I take no action； the people are naturally peaceful；
I love tranquility； the people naturally become orderly；
I plan no wasteful event； the people naturally grow prosperous；
I entertain no desire； the people naturally remain simple and honest。
58
When a ruler is tolerant and understanding；
The people will be loyal and obedient；
When a ruler is intolerant and overbearing；
The people will be resentful and resistant。
There are misfortunes wherein clues of blessings lie；
There are blessings wherein seeds of misfortunes hide。
Who would know the final outcome？
There is no rule to go by！
Normalcy reverts to chaos；
Good reverts to evil。
People have puzzled over these for a long time！
Therefore a wise ruler is：
Square but not cutting；
Sharp but not piercing；
Straight but not stretching and
Illustrious but not dazzling。
59
Governing the people or interacting with Nature；
Nothing is more important than being frugal。
Only being frugal can one be prepared for the future。
Early preparation emphasizes heavy conservation of resources。
Emphasizing conservation assures no obstacles in the future。
No future obstacle； then the prospect knows no limit。
Knowing of no limit； a state is well prepared。
Govern the state with this principle；
It will long endure。
60
Governing a large state is like cooking a small fish。
Let Tao prevail in the world；
Even the spiritual beings lose their divine appeal。
Not only they lose their appeal；
Their appeal harms no people。
Not only their appeal harms no people；
Neither the ruler harms people。
Since both inflict no harm；
Then all the benefits accrue jointly to the people。
61
A big state is like the downstream of a river； where the world converges； and which functions as the female
of the world。
The female always overcomes the male through stillness。
Stillness means lying low。
Therefore；
When a big state places itself below a small state；
It gains the trust of the small state；
When a small state places itself below a big state；
It gains the confidence of the big state。
Thus：
Sometimes a state lies low in order to gain；
Sometimes a state lying low results in gain。
A big state wishes only to dominate and lead；
A small state desires only to join and follow。
Now that each of the two gets what is wants；
It would still be better for the big state to lie low。
62
Tao holds secrets of all things。
It is the treasure for good people； and
The protector for bad people。
Fine talks can earn one respect；
Good deeds can elevate one抯 status。
Then for those who have behaved badly； why abandon them？
Thus：
When crowning a king or installing three ministers；
In spite of their beautiful jade offerings preceded by fast horses；
It would be better to offer them Tao。
What made the ancients value Tao？
Did they not believe that：
You would get what you seek and be forgiven of your sins？
Therefore； it is valued by the world。
63
Take no willful action；
Diffuse contentious even to nonevent；
Transform the tasteless tasteful。
Big or small； numerous or few；
Repay enmities with virtue。
Anticipate difficulties while it is still easy；
Prepare for being big while it is still small。
Difficult problems in the world must have grown from what used to be easy；
Great events in the world must have started from what used to be small。
So the sage does not aim to be great；
Thus he can achieve greatness。
Light promises often result in loss of credibility；
Easy encounters often are followed by difficulties。
So even the sage anticipates difficulty；
Thus he encounters no difficulty。
64
In an orderly state； it is easy to maintain status quo；
Before the appearance of trouble； it is easy to diffuse it。
What is fragile is easy to break；
What is small is easy to scatter。
Prevent problems before they become problems；
Establish rules of order before there is disorder。
A tree of huge proportions is grown from a tiny sapling；
A nine story tower is built from the ground up；
A journey of a thousand li begins under the feet （with the first step）。