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And uses this knowledge in a Wu…Wei manner
Therefore：
As the perfect is the teacher of the imperfect；
The imperfect is a valuable experience for the perfect。
Either teacher … either student；
Not honoring the teacher；
Not loving and caring for the student；
Though learned and wise；
Is deluded and deceived。
Such is the subtle mystery。
28
YIN POWER
She …
Knowing the Yang； yet keeping to the Yin；
Like a valley stream receives All Things under the heavens。
Never departing from the eternal Te；
Returns to the innocence of childhood。
She …
Knowing whiteness； lightness and glory； yet；
Keeping to blackness； darkness and humility；
becomes an example to the world。
Never deviating from the eternal Te；
Returns to the ultimate mysterious
primordial essence。
She …
Knowing honor and glory； yet；
Keeping to obscurity and humility；
becomes the receptive valley of the world。
Being proficient in the eternal Te；
Returns； as to an uncarved block。
As uncarved wood is cut …
The Tao is transformed into myriad things。
The Sage； in using it； attains awesome power。
A truly wise ruler is a careful carver；
Ruling as sparsely and carefully
as she carves。
29
FOLLY OF HARD CONTROL
Those who would conquer the world by making humankind and events
conform to their desire；
Never succeed …
For the sovereignty of the world is
subtle； sacred； spiritual。
Tampering with it； shaping or changing it；
Harms； mars； spoils and destroys it。
Reaching for it； grabbing or grasping at it；
It is gone … lost。
There exists constant alternation …
Advance … Retreat
Blowing Hot … Blowing Cold
Strength … Weakness
Rise … Fall
The Sage； therefore； avoids all extremes；
extravagances and excesses。
30
USE OF FORCE
The wise leader of people； in following ；the Tao；
Conquers without using force of arms；
For it is in the nature of direct force to rebound
… violence begetting violence；
repaying the wielder in kind。
Knowing that forceful conflict produces
a battleground of thorns and bramble extending far beyond the point of conflict；
It is inevitable that conflict be followed by great famine and deprivation。
A wise leader effects the purpose at hand； and stops …
Not continuing the use of power for its own sake。
Achieving the purpose：
… Does not brag about it。
… Does not boast of it。
… Does not take pride in it。
… Considers any conflict an unavoidable and regrettable necessity。
… Does not delight in domination
and violence。
Knowing that loss follows gain；
decay follows vigor
and that violence is not consistent with the Tao；
Then that which is inconsistent with the Tao；
Must in time； perish。
31
ARMS AND WEAPONS
Arms and weapons；
Being instruments of destruction； Are despised by all。
They are avoided by followers of the Tao。
As instruments of evil； they are spurned by good leaders；
Being used with calm restraint only when no other choice prevails。
A good leader does not regard victory with rejoicing；
For to delight in victory is to delight
in the slaughter of people。
To delight in slaughter is to fail
in one's purpose。
In ancient social custom …
The left is the place of honor
for ceremonies at home。
At war； the place of honor is at the right。
Thus；
Good omen and happy occasions favor the left。
Ill omen and such sad occasions as
funeral rites； favor the right。
Observe then with grief and sorrow the slaughter
accompanying victory of arms； for；
Victory of arms and funeral ceremony
truly share the same rite。
32
THE UNCARVED BLOCK
The Tao； eternal and nameless；
Is as an uncarved block …
Seemingly simple and insignificant；
Is inferior to nothing under the heavens。
If leaders were to embrace it within their own true natures；
Loyalty would come to them as effortlessly as
heaven and earth send the rains and dew。
There being no compulsion；
All would be in harmony。
Carving the block creates identity。
Identity causes names。
Names cause differentiation and distinction …
Harmony ceases。
Thus；
As names are perceived …
As distinctions among people arise …
Stop！
Knowing when to stop； danger may be avoided。
Tao in the affairs of the world is as natural as the rivers seeking the seas。
33
KNOWING ONESELF
To know and understand others； Is to have wisdom。
To know and understand oneself； Is to have wisdom and enlightenment。
To conquer others； Is to have physical force。
To conquer oneself； Is to have physical force as well as internal strength。
To be content with what one has； Is to be rich indeed。
To act with perseverance； Is to be strong willed。
To preserve one's natural essence； Is to endure。
To die； Is not to perish。
One's eternal presence is true longevity。
34
GREATNESS
The great Tao； flowing everywhere；
May go this way or that；
To the left or to the right。
All Things depending upon it for existence；
It is generous； no grace is withheld。
Silently and freely fulfilling its purpose and destiny；
It lays no possessive claim。
Nourishing and protecting All Things；
It has no desire to be master over them。
Without desire； asking for nothing；
Some may call it 〃The Small〃。
However； All Things belonging and returning to it …
Tho' it lays no claim to master them；
It is called 〃The Great〃。
Thus the Sage
Never making a show of greatness …
Manifests true greatness。
35
TAO PRESENCE
Tao presence in mind；
Quietude； comfort and harmony appear。
As music pleasures the soul …
As fine food delights the senses …
Passing strangers take note； pause to enjoy。
Compare then the Tao …
Flavorless to the taste。
Unseen to the eye。
Unheard to the ear。
Tho' using it … it is inexhaustible。
36
THE SUBTLE LAW
Expansion grows from contraction。
Strength grows from weakness。
Construction grows from destruction。
Receiving grows from giving。
Being the subtle law of nature；
Softness and gentleness overcome the hard and the strong。
As fish are preserved by hiding in the deep；
Preserve your weapons of survival from the view of the Idle Curious。
37
NEVER DOING
Tao never does； Yet through it； All Things are done。
If leaders observed this； All would develop naturally。
Desire for active doing would be restrained by the inherent simplicity of Tao。
Being free of desire； Stillness and tranquility reign。
Of itself； All Things are at peace。
38
THE SUBSTANTIAL AND THE SUPERFICIAL
The person known to have superior Te；
Has it as a result of natural instinct。
Possessing