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If all the plants and animals were not reproductive； they would be likely
to cease to exist；
If the leaders were not the greatest rulers； they would be likely to
stumble and fall。
Truly； humility is the root from which greatness springs；
The High must be built upon the foundation of the low。
That is why leaders describe themselves 〃The Helpless One；〃 〃The Little
One；〃 and 〃The Worthless One。〃
To gain the peoples support。
They realize their
dependence upon the lowly。
Get honor
by not being honored。
It is not wise to
shine like jade and
sound like stone…chimes。
（The true leader
has substance
rather just appearance。）
40
The movement of the
Tao （ the Laws of the Universe ）
consists of Returning。
（In science； for every physical action there is a physical reaction。 Itis
the same in social order。）
The use of the
Tao （ the Laws of the Universe ）
consists of perception。
（Understand the root cause and you will understand the process。）
All things
under heaven
are born
of the Visible；
The Visible
is born
of the Invisible。
（The principals that we do not directly perceive create what we see。
Chaos has a pattern if only we use our intuition。）
41
When a wise scholar hears the Tao （ the Laws of the Universe ）；
They practice it without fail。
When a average scholar hears the
Tao （ the Laws of the Universe ）；
They move between belief and unbelief。
When a worthless scholar hears the
Tao （ the Laws of the Universe ）；
They laugh loudly at it。
If such a one does not laugh at it；
The Tao （ the Laws of the Universe ） would not be the Tao （ the Laws ofthe
Universe ）！
To the untrained observer；
Who understands the Tao； seems foolish；
Who progresses in the Tao； seems to fail；
Who follows the Tao； seems to wander。
The wise people of old have truly said：
The bright Way looks dim。
The forward Way looks backward。
The smooth Way looks rough。
High Virtue （Power） looks low like a bottomless pit。
Great clearness looks spotted。
Unending Virtue （Power） looks like it is not enough。
Proved Virtue （Power） looks pitiful。
Solid Virtue （Power） looks as though melted。
Greatest space has no corners。
Great talents are slowly mastered。
Great music has the rarest sound。
Great Form is shapeless。
The Tao （ the Laws of the Universe ） is hidden and nameless；
It alone knows how to give help and to make whole。
42
Tao （ the Laws of the Universe ）
gave birth to One；
（ The Unified Field ）
One gave birth to Two；
（ Energy and Matter； E=MC2 ）
Two gave birth to Three；
（ Gravity； Nuclear and Electro…Magnetic Forces）
Three gave birth to all things。
All the things carry the
Yin （physical（matter）） on their backs and
hold the
Yang （spiritual（energy）） to their chest；
Getting their vital balance from the
proper blending of the two vital Breaths。
（Physical（matter） and Spiritual（energy））
What is more hated by men than to be 〃helpless（ in need of help）；〃
〃little（ no desire to be superior ）；〃 and
〃worthless （ no desire to be rich ）〃？
These are the very names the
true leaders call themselves。
You can gain by losing （putting ourselves in a position to gain）；
And you can lose by gaining （receiving our hearts desire and feeling lost
）。
What others have taught I repeat：
〃A person who lives for destruction will attract destruction to themself。〃
（Destruction attracts destruction。
Construction attracts construction。
Weakness attracts destruction。
Virtue （power） attracts construction。）
I will make this chapter my most important teaching。
43
The softest
of all things
Wears down
the hardest of all things。
Only No thing
can enter into
no…space。
I know the
advantages of
doing everything at
its own speed。
Few things
under heaven
teach as much as the
lessons of Silence；
Or are as
helpful as
the fruits of
proper timing。
44
Your name and
your body；
which is more valuable？
Your body and
your wealth；
which is more prized？
Gain and
loss；
which is more painful？
Too much
love for anything
will cost you
a lot in the end。
The storing up of
too much worldly goods
will mean
a big loss。
Know when
you have enough and
be immune
from disgrace。
Know when
to stop and
be protected
from dangers。
Only this way
can you
last long。
45
The greatest perfection
is never completed；
So its use
never runs out。
The greatest fullness
has always room for more；
So its use
goes on forever。
The greatest straightness
is curved。
The greatest skill
is looks effortless。
The greatest speaking
is slow。
Moving around
overcomes cold；
Calm
overcomes heat。
The peaceful and
calm
Is the Normal
of the World。
46
When the world is
in possession of
the Tao （ the Laws of the Universe ）；
The galloping horses
are led to fertilize
the fields
with their droppings。
（ People create goods for exchange and
contend with each other in sport。）
When the world
has become
Taoless （ without the Laws of the Universe ）；
War horses
breed themselves in the suburbs。
（People create tools of destruction and
contend with each other over the ownership of countries。）
There is no disaster
like not knowing
what is enough。
There is no evil
like greed。
They
who know
what
is enough
will
always
have enough。
47
Without
going out of
your door；
You
can know
the ways
of the world。
Without
looking through
your window；
You
can see
the Tao
（the Laws of the Universe）。
You can travel far；
And know very little。
The Complete Thinker
knows
without traveling；
Sees
without looking；
And achieves
without Effort。
（Because they understand
the Laws of the Universe and
the Power of their application。）
48
Rote Learning
involves daily
getting more；
The practice of Tao
（the Laws of the Universe）
involves daily
getting rid of。
Keep on
getting rid of and
getting rid of；
Until you reach
the state of Effortlessness。
Effortlessness and
nothing is
left undone。
To win the world；
give up all。
If you
still have
private goals；
You
will never
win
the world。
49
The Complete Thinker
has no interests
of their own；
But takes
the interests
of the people
as their own。
They are kind
to the kind；
They are al