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By means of the nation； watch the nation。
By means of the world； watch the world。
By what means do I know the world aright？
By this。
55
Containing the substantiality of virtue
Is comparable to ＇being like＇ a bare child：
Poisonous insects do not sting ＇you＇。
Savage beasts do not seize ＇you＇。
Snatching birds do not take ＇you＇。
＇The child抯＇ bones are tender
Its muscles are soft。
But its grip is firm。
It does not yet know the union of female and male
And yet it抯 completely made：
The utmost of vitality indeed！
Throughout the day crying and not becoming hoarse：
The utmost of harmony indeed！
Knowing harmony is called the Constant。
Knowing the Constant is called clarity。
Promoting life is said to be auspicious。
The mind ordering ch抜 is said to be violent。
A strong thing ruling over what is Old？br》 This is called 搉on…Tao。？br》
The non…Tao soon ends。
56
Those who know do not speak。
Those who speak do not know。
Blunt the sharpness
Untie the knots
Harmonize the lights
Equate the dust？br》 This is called 揗ystic Similitude。？br》
Therefore：
It is not able to be obtained； yet it is near。
It is not able to be obtained； and it is distant。
It is not able to be obtained； yet it benefits。
It is not able to be obtained； yet it harms。
It is not able to be obtained； yet it is valuable。
It is not able to be obtained； yet it is worthless。
Therefore； ＇it＇ become＇s＇ for the world what is precious。
57
By uprightness； govern the kingdom。
By rarely using soldiers
＇And＇ by means of non…administration
Take the world。
By what means do I know this to be so？
By this：
The world greatly shuns and avoids ＇the poor＇
And the people ＇remain＇ completely impoverished。
The people greatly sharpen weapons
＇And＇ the kingdom and households grow dark。
The people ＇become＇ excessively crafty and clever
＇And＇ strange things start ＇to happen＇。
Laws and directives are increasingly promulgated
＇And thus＇ more robbers and thieves exist。
Therefore do the sages say：
揑 do not administer； and the people change themselves。
I am pleased with stillness； and the people correct themselves。
I do not ＇meddle in their＇ affairs； and the people grow rich by themselves。
I do not desire； and the people simplify themselves。？br》
58
＇When＇ the government is toned down and uninterested
The people are honest and unsophisticated。
＇When＇ the government is scrutinizing and clinical：
The people lack and run short。
Misfortune still depends on that which is of good fortune。
Good fortune still conceals that which is of misfortune。
Who knows the final end ＇of this＇？
＇Even＇ this is not correct。
Correctness reverts to being strange。
Goodness reverts to being evil。
Peoples？bewilderment？br》 Its days certainly have lasted a long time。
Therefore； the sages
Square but do not cut。
Inspect but do not stab。
Are straightforward but not unrestrained。
Luminous but not dazzling。
59
＇In＇ governing the people and serving Heaven
There is nothing like thriftiness。
Only thriftiness is rightly called 搚ielding beforehand。？br》 Yielding beforehand
Entails ＇one抯＇ arrival at a hard…won accumulation of virtue。
＇With this＇ hard…won accumulation of virtue
＇There is＇ necessarily nothing not overcome。
＇When＇ nothing is not overcome
＇There is＇ necessarily no one who knows your limits。
＇When＇ there are none who know your limits
＇You＇ can therefore have a kingdom。
＇When you＇ have the mother of the kingdom
＇You＇ can thereby endure for a long time。
This is called 揹eeply rooted？br》 揂 solid foundation。？br》
The way of long life and lasting vision。
60
Governing a great kingdom is like quick…frying small delicacies。
＇When＇ using the Tao to manage the world
Its demons are powerless。
＇It抯＇ not ＇exactly＇ that its demons are powerless
＇But that＇ their powers do not harm people。
Not ＇only is it＇ that their powers do not harm people
＇But＇ the sages also do not harm people。
Both do not reciprocate harm。
This is the reason ＇their＇ virtues mix and thereupon return。
61
That kingdom that is great
Is modest and flowing：
The intersection of the world。
The female of the world。
The female； always by means of gentleness； overcomes the male。
Therefore； ＇being＇ gentle is being modest。
Therefore：
The great kingdom； by means of modesty ＇toward＇ the small kingdom
Receives the small kingdom。
The small kingdom； by means of modesty ＇toward＇ the great kingdom
Receives the great kingdom。
Therefore：
Some are modest in order to receive。
Some are modest and are received。
The great kingdom does not inordinately desire
To annex livestock and people。
The small kingdom does not inordinately desire
To come into the service of people。
＇So that＇ they both get what each one desires
That which is the great ＇kingdom＇ should become modest。
62
That which the Tao is：
A deep obscurity among the ten…thousand things。
The treasure of kind people。
The sanctuary of unkind people。
Flattering speech can be used to buy and sell honor。
Flattering deeds can be used to increase ＇the position of＇ people。
The unkind among people？br》 Why abandon them to Existence？
Therefore； ＇when＇ establishing the emperor
And placing the three high officials
Even though there are salutations ＇made＇
And ＇so many＇ jade…wares ＇that it takes＇
An advancing team of four horses ＇to present them＇
＇Even this is＇ not as good as sitting down
And offering this Tao。
Those from of old who considered this Tao to be valuable？br》 Why ＇did they do so＇？
＇Is it＇ not said：
揟he seeking thereby attain；
The guilty are thereby delivered from evil？
Therefore； ＇it＇ become＇s＇ to the world what is precious。
63
Do ＇things＇ without 揹oing？＇them＇。
Work without working。
Taste without tasting。
＇Make＇ the great small
＇And＇ the many few。
Respond to adversity with ＇this＇ virtue。
Seek the difficult through the easy。
Manage the great through the minute。
Difficult matters in the world must be done through the easy ones。
Great matters must be done through the minute ones。
Thus； the sages at no time do great ＇things＇。
This is the reason they can achieve the great ＇things＇。
Those who make frivolous promises are certainly bereft of sincerity。
Too much ease most certainly ＇results in＇ too much difficulty。
Therefore do the sages
＇Treat things＇ as though they ＇were＇ difficult
And so they are； throughout ＇their lives＇； without difficulties！
64
The stabilized is easy to grasp。
The not…yet…begun is easy to plan for。
The brittle is easy