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Because of his not contending no one in the world can contend with him。
67
Everyone in the world says of me： 'great … but doesn't seem normal。' It's just 'greatness' … that's why it does not seem normal。 If I were normal； I'd have been of little worth for a long time now。
I have three treasures； I protect and keep hold of them。 The first is called 'gentleness' the second is called 'frugality' the third is called 'not presuming to act like leader of the world。'
Gentle； so able to be bold frugal； so able to be lavish not presuming to act like leader of the world； so able to become head of a government。
Now： To be bold without being gentle to be lavish without being frugal to act like leader without putting oneself last： This is death。
Yes； gentleness： 〃Attack with it and you will win defend with it and you will stand firm。〃 When Heaven wants to rescue someone； it surrounds him with a wall of gentleness。
68
The best soldier is not warlike the best fighter shows no anger
the one best at defeating the enemy does not engage him the one best at managing people puts himself below them。
This is the Te of not contending this is the power to manage people。 This is being the Counterpart of Heaven equalling the very best of the ancients。
69
Military men have a saying： 〃I do not presume to act as master； I act as guest I do not presume to advance an inch； I retreat a foot。〃
This is like 〃going forward without going forward rolling up the sleeves but baring no arm attacking without showing hostility drawing with no sword。〃
Nothing brings greater disaster than the motto： 〃The enemy is nothing。〃 Thinking； 〃the enemy is nothing〃： close to losing my Treasure。
Yes； when they cross weapons and attack each other the one in mourning will win。
70
My words are very easy to understand； very easy to practice。 No one in the world can understand； No one can practice them。
The words have an ancestor the practice has a master。 They just do not understand and so they do not understand me。 （So few understand me … a rare treasure indeed。）
And so the Wise Person： Dressed in shabby clothes； jade under his shirt。
71
〃Aware but not aware of it： a high thing。〃 Not aware but aware of it： sick of this。 Simply sick of the sickness … and so no longer sick。
The Wise Person's lack of this sickness： He became sick of being sick； and so he's no longer sick。
72
When the people are not in awe of your majesty then great majesty has been achieved。
Do not restrict where they can live do not tire them out by taxing what they live on。 Simply do not tire them and they will not tire of you。
And so； the Wise Person： Knows himself does not make a show of himself。 Loves himself does not exalt himself。 Yes； he leaves 'that' aside； and attends to 'this。'
73
〃One who shows bravery by being daring will get killed one who shows bravery by not being daring will survive。'
But in both these cases： 〃Sometimes it helps； sometimes it harms。〃 〃What Heaven picks to hate … who knows the reason？〃 And so the Wise Person： Treats things as difficult。
Heaven's Way： Not contending； but excels at overcoming not speaking； but excels in getting answers not summoning； but people come of themselves lax； but excels at organization。
Heaven's net is very wide … loosely woven； but it lets nothing slip by。
74
〃The people are always lacking in the fear of death。〃 Then why frighten them with death？
Supposing the people always had the fear of death； and we could catch law breakers and kill them … who would dare？
There is always The Executioner … he does the killing。 Doing the killing in The Executioner's place； this is like 〃doing the cutting in the master carpenter's place。〃 One who cuts in the master carpenter's place … seldom it is he does not cut his hand。
75
'The people are starving。' It is because those high up eat too much tax grain； this is why they are starving。
'The people are hard to govern。' It is because there is Working among those high up； this is why they are hard to govern。
'The people take death lightly。' It is because they pursue a lavish life； this is why they take death lightly。 Simply： Those who do not Work at 'living' … these are better men than those who 'love life。'
76
People begin life Soft and Weak when they are dead they are hard and firm。
Among the thousands of things： Grass and trees begin life Soft and tender when they are dead they are withered and brittle。
Yes； strength and hardness accompany death Softness and Weakness accompany life。
And so： With a battle axe too hardened； you cannot win when a tree becomes hard； then comes the axe。
The strong and the great stand lowest the Soft and Weak stand highest。
77
Heaven's Way is like the stringing of a bow： It pulls down what is high it lifts up what is low it takes away from what has an abundance to give to what has not enough。
Heaven's Way： Take away from what has an abundance help along what has not enough。 People's way is not like this： Take away from what has not enough to offer it to what has an abundance。
Who can have an abundance to offer the world？ Only the one who has Tao。
And so the Wise Person： Works but does not rely on this achieves successes but does not dwell in them has no desire to show off his worth。
78
Nothing in the world is Softer or Weaker than water。 But when it attacks what is hard and strong none of them can win out； because they have no way of affecting it。
Softness overcomes what is hard Weakness overcomes what is unyielding。 Everyone in the world understands it no one can practice it。
And so the Wise Person says： Taking on a state's dirt makes one lord of its earth altars taking on a state's misfortunes makes one King of the world。 Right words seem the opposite。
79
〃When great hostilities are smoothed over there is always some hostility left。〃 How could this be considered good？
And so the Wise Person： 〃Keeps hold of the left…hand contract tally； and doesn't make demands on others。〃
One who has Te is concerned with fulfilling his contract one who does not have Te concerns himself with collecting his due。
Heaven's Way： Not to have personal favourites； but to be invariably good to all。
80
Oh for a small country with few people！ Supposing there were men with the talents of dozens and hundreds； but no one employed them。 Supposing the people took death seriously； and did not travel far distances。
Although there exist boats and carriages； they have no occasion to ride in them。 Although there exist armour and weapons； they have no occasion to show them off。
Supposing people returned to knotting cords； and using this as writing。 They find their food savoury they find their clothes elegant they are content with their homes they are fond of their folkways。
Neighbouring states are in sight of one another so they hear the sounds of each others' dogs and roosters … but people reach old age and die with no comings and goings between them。
81
Si