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To maintain flexibility tells of strength
Make use of what is illuminated
To return home again to the light
Do not abandon yourself to misfortune
This may be called 搒ustainable practice？br》
53
Let our resolve here be this： to be understanding
To travel upon the great way
（With） only distractions to fear
The great way is so very ordinary
And the people love the detours
The courts are so very well kept
The fields； so very weedy
The granaries； so very empty
The clothes； refined & elaborate
Sharp swords worn at the waist
A glut of drinking & feasting
Wealth & goods kept in heaps
This describes robbery & bombast
Surely not the way at all
54
What is well established is not uprooted
What is well embraced is not taken away
Children & grandchildren； accordingly；
make offerings & sacrifice without fail
Cultivate this in the person
Its character grows true
Cultivate this in the family
Its character grows ample
Cultivate this in the community
Its character grows enduring
Cultivate this in the country
Its character grows bountiful
Cultivate this in the world
Its character grows universal
And so； use person to examine the person
With family； examine the family
With community； examine the community
With country； examine the country
With the world； examine the world
So how are we to know that the world
is really like this？
Through This
55
To embody virtue抯 substance
Compares to the naked infant
Wasps & scorpions； vipers & serpents do not bite
Wild beasts do not seize
Birds of prey do not strike
The bones are flexible； the muscles are soft；
but the grip is sure
Not yet knowing the union of woman & man
But the penis is aroused
Essence is at its prime here！
Howling all day； but not getting hoarse
Harmony is at its prime here！
To comprehend harmony speaks of the continuous
To comprehend the continuous speaks of clarity
The enrichment of life may be called a 揾appy omen？br》 The mind directing the breath may be called a 損ower？br》 （But） beings grown mighty will then grow frail
This may be called 搊ff the path？br》 Off the path is soon finished
56
To know does not mean to speak
To speak does not mean to know
Close the passages
Secure the gates
Blunt the sharpness
Resolve the tangles
Shade the glare
Be one with the world
This may be called 搈ystic union？br》 Such as may not be gained by affection
May not be gained by detachment
May not be gained by favor
May not be gained by suffering
May not be gained by esteem
May not be gained by humility
And so becomes precious to （all） under heaven
57
Use principle to govern a country
Use tricks to wage a war
Use the least effort to capture the world
By what means do we know that things are really like this？
By This
There are more taboos & restrictions in the world
But the people grow more impoverished
The people have more productive implements
（But） countries & clans grow more disturbed
（As） others get more clever & artful
Bizarre things happen more often
The more that matters of law are proclaimed
The more robbers & looters there will be
And so the wise ones will claim：
We do nothing
And humanity evolves on its own
We favor stillness
And humanity governs itself
We do not make an effort
And humanity enriches itself
We have no ambition
And humanity simplifies itself
58
（Where） their government is muted & dull
Its people are honest & sincere
（Where） their government is efficient & exacting
Its people are partial & wanting
Ah； suffering！ That happiness has such things to rely on！
Ah； happiness！ That suffering has such places to lurk！
Who comprehends their outcomes？
Are there no rules？
The rules go back to behaving strangely
The good return to acting ominously
Humankind has held its delusions
For such an entrenched length of days
This is why wise ones
Are direct but not divisive
Exacting but not hurtful
To the point but not tactless
Bright but not dazzling
59
（In） governing people （or） serving heaven
There is nothing quite like economy
Only one who is thrifty
May be deemed ahead of the task
To be ahead of the task suggests there is
a great reserve of character
Given a great reserve of character
then nothing is impossible
When nothing is impossible
then nobody knows things to be limited
Nobody knowing things to be limited
is fit to claim the realm
（Now） claiming the realm抯 mother
is fitness to endure a long time
This describes deep roots & solid foundations
The path of long life & enduring vision
60
Ruling a great country is like cooking a little fish
This is how the way manages （all） under heaven
（Whether） the ghosts lack spirit
Or the ghosts do not lack spirit
（Whether） the spirits avoid harming people
Or the spirits do not avoid harming people
Wise ones still avoid harming people
Now as neither of these haunts the other
So virtue interacts & comes back home to them
61
The great realm is the one which flows beneath
A confluence to （all） under heaven
A woman to （all） under heaven
The feminine； ever through stillness； overcomes the male
Through stillness & playing submissive
And so a great realm； by submitting to a small realm；
Will then appropriate the small realm
A small realm； by submitting to a great realm；
Will then appropriate the great realm
And so the one submits； intending to appropriate
The other submits and gets taken in
（Where） the great realm has no greater ambition
than uniting & caring for others
（And） the small realm has no greater ambition
than joining & serving others
Then both of these each gets what it wants
（And） the great one should act to submit
62
The way is a sanctum to the myriad beings
A good person抯 treasure
A less than good person抯 place of refuge
Elegant speeches may be useful at market
Noble deeds may be useful for promoting someone
（But if） another has less ability
Why waste what they are？
So （when） enthroning the heir to heaven
（Or） installing the three high nobles
Though there be big jade platters in tribute
Drawn by teams of four horses
This is not as good as sitting still （and） offering this path
What purpose had the ancient ones in honoring this way？
Was it not claimed：
揟o seek is to find
To claim error is to be forgiven？
So （this） becomes precious to （all） under heaven
63
Act without acting
Work without working
Savor without tasting
Greatness is ordinary； much is little
Repay ill will with virtue
Plan for the complicated