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While to those who conform themselves toinefficacy； inefficacy readily lends its ineffectiveness。
Who has not enough faith will not be ableto get faith。 Or：
〃By not believing in people you turn theminto liars。〃
24
Who stands on tiptoe； doesn't stand steady；
He who takes the longest strides； doesn'twalk。。〃
He who does his own looking sees little；and he who shows or reveals himself is hardly luminous
He who justifies and defines himself isn'tsubsequently distinct。
He who boasts of what he will do succeedsin nothing；
Who brags doesn't endure for long。 Who isproud of his work； achieves nothing well lasting。
Such people are like remnants of food andtumours of action from the dao point of view。 Good braggarts could be dregs。So it's said
〃Pass round superfluous dishes to those thathave already had enough；
Such things of disgust all are likely todetest and reject in disgust。〃
So the man of dao spurns them。 The man thathas dao doesn't stay to bray and show off。
25
Before heaven and earth here was somethingnebulous； formless yet complete；
without sound； without substance； isolated；free from all form；
standing alone and depending on nothing；unchanging； operating everywhere； all pervading； revolving and withoutfail。
One can think of it as the mother of all
I don't know its true name。 I call it dao。
〃Way〃 is the by…name。
If forced to give it a name I can call itgreat （ta） 。
Now such greatness implies reaching out inspace； and also means functioning everywhere； or passing on；
Space…yielding or functioning everywheresignifies far…reaching。 And passing on means going far away；
To go really far is to return to the originalpoint。 To reach far is a return。 To go far away means to return。
So dao is great and far…reaching； and sois heaven； earth and the king。
For just as dao； earth and heaven each hasits subtle greatness； so does the ruler。
There are four great things in the universe；and the king is one of them。 So within the realm there are four portionsof greatness〃； and one belongs to the king。
The ways of men are conditioned by thoseof earth。
The ways of earth； by those of heaven。
The ways of heaven by those of dao；
and the ways of dao by the Self…so's
Dao in turn models itself after Nature。
26
The solid is the platform of the light； andthe heavy is the root of the light。
（Maybe firm integrity has to be the basisof light frivolity）。
Quiet strength rules over activity； the not…so…activecould be the big boss of the hasty。
So the wise man travels all day and neverleaves his baggage；
he who travels all day hardly likes to beseparated from his provision…chart：
However great and glorious the view； he sitsquiet and dispassionate〃。
So the lord with ten thousand chariots canseldom allow himself to be light…spirited and lighter than those he rules。The ruler of a great country should never make light of his body … anywhere。In light frivolity； the controller's centre is lost； in hasty action； suchself…mastery。 If the ruler is light…hearted； the minister will be destroyed。If he is light； the foundation is lost；
If he is active； the lord is lost。＇Maybefor ever。＇
27
A good traveller leaves no track or tracebehind； nor does fit activity。 So a good runner leaves no track。
Perfect speech is like a jade…worker whosetool leaves no mark。 Good speech leaves no flaws。
The perfect reckoner needs no counting…slips；the good reckoner uses no counters。
The perfect； shut door is without bolt norbar and can't be opened。
The perfect knot needs neither rope nor twine；yet can't be untied。 No one can untie it。
So the wise man is good at helping men； alwaysgood in saving men： the wise man is all the time helping men in the mostperfect way … he certainly doesn't turn his back on men； is all the timein the most perfect way helping creatures。 He certainly doesn't turn hisback on creatures； and consequently no man is rejected。 For that reasonthere's no useless person。
And he is always good in saving。 So nothingis rejected。
This is called following the light （of nature）… is called resorting to the light； nay； stealing some divine light。
Truly； the good man is the teacher of thebad； as they say。 But the bad man is the lesson of the good； in part somematerial from which the good can learn。 And so the imperfect is the equipmentof the perfect man〃。
He who hardly respects or values his teacher；hardly cares for the material or loves his lesson； is gone far astray evenif well versed。
That's the fine secret。
28
〃He who knows the male （active force）； yetkeeps to the female （the passive force or receptive element）； becomes likea ravine； receiving all sort of things。
Being the all…encompassing ravine he knowsa power that he never calls upon in vain。 This is returning to the stateof infancy。
He who knows the white； yet keeps and cleavesto the black becomes the standard by which all things are tested； he becomesthe model for the world。
As such he has all the time the eternal powerthat never errs； and he returns to the limitless； a primordial nothingness。
He who knows glory； yet keeps to obscurityor even cleaves to ignominy；
turns into the valley that receives intoit all kind of things。 And being such a valley he has all the time a powerthat suffices。 So he returns again to some pristine simplicity； returnsto the state of simplicity： its the raw； uncarved block。
Break up simple awareness and it becomesshaped。 Next it becomes someones tool in the hands of the wise man。 Forwhen a block is sawed up it's made into subordinates or implements。
When the wise man uses it； it becomes chief。
So the greatest carver does the least cutting；as they say。 The great ruler doesn't cut up。
29
Those that would gain what's under heavenby tampering with it … Ive seen that they don't succeed。
For that which is under heaven is like aholy vessel； dangerous to tamper with。 Those that tamper with it； harmit。 Human go…between is likely to fail。 Those that grab at it lose it。Who makes can spoil well； who holds can lose。
Among creatures of this world some lead andsome follow。 Some things go forward among creatures： some go in front；some follow behind …
Some blow out； some blow in； some blow outwhile others would blow in。
Some are feeling vigorous just when othersare worn out。 Some are strong； some are weak。
Some are loading just when others would betilting out。 Some can break； some can fall。
So the wise man discards excess； extravagance；and ridiculous pride： He discards even the absolute； the all…inclusive；the extreme。
30
He who by dao purposes to help a ruler ofmen； will oppose most conquest by force of arms：
such things are wont to rebound。
Where armies are； thorns and brambles cangrow。
The raising of a great host could be followedby a year of dearth。
Therefore a good general effects his purposeand next stops； for he dares not rely upon the strength of arms： he doesn'ttake further advantage of a victory。 He fulfils his