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Say what you mean。
Be prepared for anything。
Do whatever you can；
whenever it needs doing。
If you don't
compare yourself to others；
nobody can compare to you。
9
If you drink too much； you get drunk。
The engine won't start
if you're always tinkering with it。
If you hoard wealth；
you fall into its clutches。
If you crave success；
hyou succumb to failure。
Do what you have to do；
then walk away。
Anything else will drive you nuts。
10
Can you hold on to your ego
and still stay focused on Tao？
Can you relax your mind and body
and brace yourself for a new life？
Can you check yourself
and see past
what's in front of your eyes？
Can you be a leader
and not try to prove you're in charge？
Can you deal with what's happening
and let it happen？
Can you forget what you know
and understand what's real？
Start a job and see it through。
Have things
without holding on to them。
Do the job
without expectation of reward。
Lead people
without giving orders。
That's the way you do it。
11
A wheel has spokes；
but it rotates around a hollow center。
A pot is made out of clay or glass；
but you keep things in the space inside。
A house is made of wood or brick；
but you live between the walls。
We work with something；
but we use nothing。
12
Sight obscures。
Noise deafens。
Desire messes with your heart。
The world messes with your mind。
A Master watches the world
but keeps focused on what's real。
13
Winning can be just as bad as losing。
Confidence can mess you up
just as much as fear。
What does
〃winning can be just as bad as losing〃 mean？
If you're down；
you might be able to get up。
But if you're up；
you can get knocked down real fast。
Don't worry about the score；
just do what you have to do。
What does
〃confidence can mess you up
just as much as fear〃 mean？
Fear can keep you
from getting the job done；
but confidence
can get you in over your head。
Walk tall； but don't get cocky。
Know your limits；
and nothing can ever hold you back。
Deal with what you can。
The rest will follow。
14
You can't see Tao；
no matter how hard you look。
You can't hear Tao；
no matter how hard you listen。
You can't hold on to Tao；
no matter how hard you grab。
But it's there。
It's in you； and it's all around you。
Remember that。
15
The ancient Masters
were damn impressive。
They were deep。 Real deep。
Words can't even begin to describe
how deep they were。
You can only talk
about how they acted。
They were careful；
like a man walking on thin ice。
They were cautious；
like a soldier behind enemy lines。
They were polite；
like a guest at a party。
They moved quickly； like melting ice。
They were as plain as a block of wood。
Their minds were as wide as a valley；
and their hearts as clear
as spring water。
Can you wait
for that kind of openness and clarity
before you try to understand the world？
Can you hold still
until events have unfolded
before you do the right thing？
When you act without expectations；
you can accomplish great things。
16
Keep your head clear。
Stay calm。
Watch
as everything happens around you。
Everything reverts
to its original state；
which was nothing。
And when something becomes nothing；
it gets right with Tao。
If you don't understand that；
you're going to screw up
somewhere down the line。
If you figure it out；
you'll always know what to do。
If you get right with Tao；
you won't be afraid to die；
because you know you will。
17
When a Master takes charge；
hardly anybody notices。
The next best leader
is obeyed out of love。
After that；
there's the leader obeyed out of fear。
The worst leader is one who is hated。
Trust and respect people。
That's how you earn
their trust and respect。
The Masters don't give orders；
they work with everybody else。
When the job's done；
people are amazed
at what they accomplished。
18
When people lose touch with Tao；
they start talking about
〃righteousness〃 and 〃sanctity。〃
When people forget what's true；
they start talking about
〃self…evident truths。〃
When people have no respect
for one another；
they start talking about
〃political correctness〃
and 〃family values。〃
When the nation is unstable；
people start talking about 〃patriotism。〃
19
Get rid of sanctity。
People will understand the truth
and be happier。
Get rid of morality。
People will respect each other
and do what's right。
Get rid of value and profit。
People will not steal
if they do not desire。
If that's not possible； go to Plan B：
Be simple。 Be real。
Do your work as best you can。
Don't think about what you get for it。
Stay focused。 Get rid of all your crap。
20
Don't spend too much time
thinking about stupid shit。
Why should you care
if people agree or disagree with you？
Why should you care
if others find you attractive or not？
Why should you care
about things that worry others？
Call bullshit on all that。
Let other people
get worked up
and try to enjoy themselves。
I'm not going to give myself away。
A baby doesn't know how to smile；
but it's still happy。
Let other people
get excited about stuff。
I'm not going to hang on to anything。
I'm not going to fill my mind with ideas。
I'm not going to get stuck in a rut；
tied down to any one place。
Other people are clever；
I guess I must be stupid。
Other people have goals；
I guess I must be aimless。
Like the wind。 Or the waves。
I'm not like other people。
I'm getting right with Tao。
21
A Master stays focused on Tao。
Nothing else； just Tao。
But you can't pin Tao down
you can't even see it！
How are you supposed to focus on something like that？
Just remember what Lao Tzu said：
The universe began as a void。
The void fills with images。
Images lead to the creation of objects。
And every object has Tao at its core。
That's the way it's been；
ever since the world began。
How can I be so sure？
I just know。
22
Learn how to stand still
if you want to go places。
Get on your knees
if you want to stand tall。
If you want wisdom；
empty your mind。
If you want the world；
renounce your riches。
Push yourself until you're exhausted；
and then you'll find your strength。
You can go far
if you don't have anyt