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When you use the Way to govern the world； evil spirits won't have godlike power。
Actually； it's not that evil spirits won't have godlike power；
It's that their power will not harm men。
But it's not ＇just＇ that their power won't harm men；
The Sage； also； will not harm them。
Since these two do not harm others；
Therefore their Virtues intermingle and return to them。
61
The large state is like the lower part of a river；
It is the female of the world；
It is the meeting point of the world。
The female constantly overcomes the male with tranquility。
Because she is tranquil； therefore she is fittingly underneath。
The large state梚f it is below the small state； then it takes over
the small state；
The small state梚f it is below the large state； then it is taken over by the large state。
Therefore some by being low take over；
And some by being low are taken over。
Therefore the large state merely desires to unite and rear others；
While the small state merely desires to enter and serve others。
If both get what they want；
Then the large state should fittingly be underneath。
62
The Way is that toward which all things flow。
It is the treasure of the good man；
And that which protects the bad。
Beautiful words can be bought and sold；
Honored deeds can be presented to others as gifts；
＇Even with＇ things that people regard as no good梬ill they be rejected？
Therefore； when the So of Heaven is being enthroned or the Three Ministers installed；
Though you might salture them which disks of jade preceded by teams of four horses；
That's not so good as sitting still and offering this。
The reason why the ancients valued this梬hat was it？
Did they not say； 〃Those who seek； with this will attain； and those who commit offenses； with this will escape〃？！
Therefore； it's the most valued thing in the world。
63
Act without acting；
Serve without concern for affairs；
Find flavor in what has no flavor。
Regard the small as large and the few as many；
And repay resentment with kindness。
Plan for the difficult while it is easy；
Act on the large while it's minute。
The most difficult things in the world begin as things that are easy；
The largest things in the world arise from the minute。
Therefore the Sage； to the end does not strive to do the great；
And as a result； he is able to accomplish the great；
Those who too lightly agree will necessarily be trusted by few；
And those who regard many things as easy will necessarily ＇end up＇ with many difficulties。
Therefore； even the Sage regards things as difficult；
And as a result； in the end he has no difficulty。
64
What is at rest is easy to hold；
What has not yet given a sign is easy to plan for；
The brittle is easily shattered；
The minute is easily scattered；
Act on it before it comes into being；
Order it before it turns into chaos。
A tree ＇so big＇ that it takes both arms to surround starts out as
the tiniest shoot；
A nine…story terrace rises up from a basket of dirt。
A high place one hundred； one thousand feet high begins from under your feet。
Those who act on it ruin it；
Those who hold on to it lose it。
Therefore the Sage does not act；
And as a result； he doesn't ruin ＇things＇；
He does not hold on to ＇things＇；
And as a result； he doesn't lose ＇things＇；
In people's handling of affairs； they always ruin things when they're right at the point of completion。
Therefore we say； 〃If you're as careful at the end as you were at the beginning； you'll have no failures。〃
Therefore the Sage desires not to desire and doesn't value goods that are hard to obtain；
He learns not to learn and returns to what the masses pass by；
He could help all things to be natural； yet he dare not do it。
65
Those who practiced the Way in antiquity；
Did not use it to enlighten the people。
Rather； they used it to make them dumb。
Now the reason why people are difficult to rule is because of their knowledge；
As a result； to use knowledge to rule the state
Is thievery of the state；
To use ignorance to rule the state
Is kindness to the state。
One who constantly understands these two；
Also ＇understands＇ the principle。
To constantly understand the principle？br》 This is called Profound Virtue。
Profound Virtue is deep； is far…reaching；
And together with things it returns。
Thus we arrive at the Great Accord。
66
The reason why rivers and oceans are able to be the kings of the one hundred valleys is that they are good at being below them。
for this reason they are able to be the kings of the one hundred valleys。
Therefore in the Sage's desire to be above the people；
He must in his speech be below them。
And in his desire to be at the front of the people；
He must in his person be behind them。
Thus he dwells above； yet the people do not regard him as heavey；
And he dwells in front； yet the people do not see him as posing a threat。
The whole world delights in his praise and never tires of him。
Is it not because he is not contentious；
That； as a result； no one in the world can contend with him？！
67
The whole world says； I'm Great；
Great； yet unlike ＇everyone else＇；
But it's precisely because I'm unlike ＇everyone else＇； that I'm therefore able to be Great。
Were I like ＇everyone else＇； for a long time now I'd have seemed insignificant and small。
I constantly have three treasures；
Hold on to them and treasure them。
The first is compassion；
The second is frugality；
And the third is not presuming to be at the forefront in the world。
Now； it's because I'm compassionate that I therefore can be courageous；
And it's because I'm frugal that I therefore can be magnamimous；
And it's because I don't presume to be at the forefront in the world that I therefore can be the head of those with complete talent。
Now； if you abandon this compassion and yet try to be courageous；
And if you abandon this frugality and yet try to be magnanimous；
And if you abandon this staying behind and yet go to the fore；
Then you will die。
If with compassion you attack； then you'll win；
If you defend； then you'll stand firm。
When Heaven's about to establish him；
It's as though he surrounds him with the protective wall of compassion。
68
Therefore； one who is good at being a warrior doesn't make a show of his might；
One who is good in battle doesn't get angry；
One who is good at defeating the enemy doesn't engage him。
And one who is good at using men places himself below them。
This is called the virtue of not competing；
This is called ＇correctly＇ using men；
This is called matching Heaven。
It's the high point of the past。
69
Those who use weapons have a saying which goes：
〃I don't presume to act like the host； and ins