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I alone am uncultured； ill defined
I drift from one thing to another； without form or direction
In truth； though； I differ from them in only one thing
I want to be nourished by the great tao
21
All virtue is derived from the tao
Yet the tao's nature is changeable； elusive
Substanceless and formless； yet it produces all shapes
Formless and substanceless； yet it produces all things
Hidden； obscured； yet from it springs all purity； all clarity
From the present to the past
The thread has never disappeared
And through it we can see the workings of nature
How do I know this is so？
There is no how； I listen； and I know
22
Learn to bend； and you will never break
Learn to turn； and you will never fall
Empty yourself； and you'll be filled
Release yourself； and you'll be renewed
Own little； you can accomplish much
Own much； you will be bewildered by your choices
The taoist holds to the simple way and guides the world
Being reserved； he becomes noted
Being subtle； he shines
Being quiet； he is acknowledged
Being humble； he is long remembered
Because he does not compete； no one can overcome him
'Bend and you will never break'
Surely this phrase has merit
Who practices it will be whole； always
23
Nature rarely speaks
Gales don't last more than a morning
Downpours don't last more than a day
If heaven and earth can't make things last
How much truer is this for us？
So； to follow the way you must be like the way
When the time comes to act； act well
When the time comes to lose； let go
Act well and the tao will supply you
Let go and the tao will carry on
24
Raise yourself too high； and you lose your balance
Prominence does not come from putting on airs
Inner light is not made by clothes or jewels
Nor does respect come from boasts
Honor is not a thing you can claim for yourself
To the taoists all this is a waste
Like spending hours cooking food no one wants to eat
Why offer people air instead of substance？
Air is free； and only fools and flatterers will buy it
Do you want to be surrounded by fools？
Where you are is where you are
Live there
25
There was something formed and complete
Before heaven and earth were born
Quiet； still； pure； deep；？changeless and self…sufficient
Perhaps it is the womb in which the world grew
It has no name； properly speaking； though I call it the tao
If I had to describe it； I'd call it 'The Spirit of Quiet Motion'
It is never still in the here and now
Always leaving； always absent； always returning； always here
If the tao is like this； then so is heaven； and so is earth；
And so could be leaders； if they would be the spirit of a nation
Men conform to the actions of their leaders
Let the leaders conform to the patterns of the earth
As the earth conforms to the cycles of the heavens
And the heavens conform to the motion of the tao
And as the tao must； by necessity； conform to itself
26
As the heaviest part of anything must be at the bottom
So all activity must center on quietness
Only an idiot； while traveling； would wander away from his luggage
Until a safe and secure place is reached
So how can a leader treat a nation otherwise
Than as an extension of her own body？
Treat people as unimportant and they will think the same of you
Leave them behind to pursue your own interests； and when you look again
They will not be there
27
Skilled travelers always find the easy path
Skilled speakers talk freely； on any subject
Skilled counters never need to use paper and pencil
A door can be sealed with neither bolt nor lock
A knot tied without rope or cord； if you only know the skill
The taoist's skill is saving men；
He does this regardless of their aptitude for being saved
He never discards a useful thing simply because it needs a little work
And since every man thinks of himself as useful
The taoist needs only one attitude for all men
A skilled leader can create goodness in whoever comes to hand
And anyone； bad or good； can be his raw material
But fail to respect the material as much as the act
And nothing will be created； no matter how much effort goes into it
The point：
There is nothing more practical than faith
28
Know the male principle； but practice the female
You will be like a ravine that gathers all things into itself
And shelters all who enter
Hold to this virtue； and you'll be as soft and accepting as an infant
Know perfection； but let imperfection be
You will be like a valley in which all manner of things aregrown
Fertile ground for every thought； every action
Hold to this virtue； and you'll be as full of potential as uncarvedwood
Know brightness； but let yourself be dark
You will become a model of common sense and propriety
Quiet and respected
Hold to this virtue； and you'll live till the mother calls you back
Others become tools； carved into shapes that fit their functions
The taoist lets himself be used however is needed
Leads without a destination in mind
By not being shaped； the world shapes itself around him
29
Would you try to improve the way the world works？
You won't succeed
The way the world works is the mold by which it continues working
Nothing else can make it work
You can follow it and you can use it
But try to mold it； and it will slip through your fingers
Some things are fast and some are slow
Some are hot and some cold
Some are strong and some weak
Some rise and some sink
So the taoist allows for all these things
Preferring none over the other
30
Whoever the tao aids in leading the people
Does not rely on weapons and violence
Armies consume； and destroy； and nothing more
A true leader uses them only at need
Lives with the destruction they create only as long it is needed
And so achieves his ends without using force
When armies are used for gaining profit； or pride； or glory；
Or to show the martial prowess of leader and nation
They serve only to fill heads and empty bellies
This is imbalanced； and must be held like that at great cost
This is not the way； sooner or later will collapse of itself
31
Weapons are dangerous tools for all concerned
Natural creature do not use them
If you must use them； don't let them take hold of your mind
At peace it is the earth that is important； the feminine principle
At war it is heaven； the essence of the male
Therefore weapons and war are not the tools of the taoist
If you must use them remain calm and detached
Never look upon them as things of beauty
To do so would mean that you delight in the slaughter of men
You would never be able to lead the land prop