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ly （憈o force the growth of things？ 憈o hasten life抯 growth unnaturally？ 憈o benefit one抯 own life？； then 慸isaster？is the equally obvious conclusion。 I view xiang in this latter light； since the immediately following lines focus upon different kinds of excess； which are viewed negatively； and which are explicitly said to be 慳gainst the DAO？
56
Those who know do not speak of it；
those who speak do not know of it。
Those who know
keep their mouths closed；
shut all the doors； *
blunt every sharpness；
untangle the knots；
soften the glare；
become one with the dust；
and enter the mystery of oneness。
They can be neither courted nor shunned；
they can be neither helped nor harmed；
they can be neither honoured nor disgraced。
They are the most treasured people upon the earth。
* men： doors
as in section 51 above； men has metaphorical rather than literal force； indicating the doors or gates through which the senses operate。
57
Be straightforward in governing the nation；
be cunning in waging a war。
Conquer the world by not interfering。
How do I know that this should be so？
Because
the more taboos and restrictions；
the poorer the people become；
the sharper the weapons；
the more fear in the land；
the more cunningness；
the more abnormal the events；
the more laws；
the greater the number of thieves。
Those who are enlightened say：
I do not act；
and people are transformed naturally；
I welcome stillness；
and people do what is right naturally；
I do not interfere；
and people prosper naturally；
I am without desire；
and people return to what is simple naturally。
58
When government is subdued and light；
people are simple and pure。
When government is sharp and prying；
people are cunning and mean。
It is on misfortune that good fortune rests；
it is in good fortune that misfortune hides。
Who knows the turning point； or where the standard lies？
The normal changes into abnormality；
the good changes into monstrosity。
Long indeed have people been confused。
Those who are enlightened
have sharp edges but do not cut；
have corners but do not jab；
are straight and true but do not over…reach；
shine radiantly but do not blind。
59
In governing the people and in serving heaven；
nothing surpasses moderation。
To be moderate
is to follow the DAO from early on；
to follow the DAO from early on
is to be filled to the brim with DE；
to be filled to the brim with DE
is to overcome all things；
to overcome all things
is to know all things are possible。
Whoever knows all things are possible
is fit to rule a country；
whoever guards a country as a mother would
will long endure。
This is called the DAO of deep roots and firm foundations；
a vision that is everlasting。
60
Governing a nation is like frying a small fish。
If the nation is governed according to the DAO；
dark spirits lose their power。
Not that the spirits lose their power
but that they do not harm the people。
Not only that they do not harm the people
but that those who are enlightened do not harm them either。 *
If neither of them harms the other；
the DE in them will be united and restored。
* sheng ren yi bu shang ren： those who are enlightened do not harm them either
a problematic rendering； since it raises the question； 憌hy should those who are enlightened ever be considered to harm people in the first place？？The difficulty of answering this point has led some translators to follow 憈hose who are enlightened？with a passive rather than an active voice： 憈hose who are enlightened are not harmed either or are protected also？ Why such a statement should be made at this point； though； is equally unclear。
61
A great country is like low…lying land
into which all rivers flow。
It is the meeting place of everything upon the earth；
the female of the world。
The female can always overcome the male by stillness；
by taking up a lower place。
And so by taking up a lower place；
a great country can win over a smaller one。
By taking up a lower place；
a small country can win over a greater one。
The one wins by becoming low；
the other wins by remaining low。
A great country wants nothing more
than to unite and feed its people。
A small country wants nothing more
than to come and serve its people。
Both get what they desire；
but it is fitting that the greater should abase itself。
62
The DAO is the hidden source of everything；
a treasure for the good；
a refuge for the bad。
Beautiful words can be marketed；
and honourable deeds can gain respect。
Even if people wander from goodness；
that is no reason to abandon them。
When an emperor is enthroned
or the three ministers installed； *
let others offer precious jade
and teams of horses。
This cannot equal sitting still
and offering the DAO。
Why was the DAO so valued from on old？
Was it not because； in the DAO；
those who seek will find；
and those who sin will be forgiven？
That is why it is the treasure of the world。
* zhi san gong： the three ministers installed
the three ministers； according to Star ＇see Further Reading and Links section＇； were the grand tutor； the grand preceptor； and the grand protector。
63
Act without acting；
do without doing；
taste without tasting。
Make the small big；
make the few many；
repay hatred with goodness。
Prepare for the difficult while it is still easy；
take care of the great while it is still small。
The difficult things in the world arise from the easy；
the great things in the world arise from the small。
And so； by never attempting great things；
those who are enlightened accomplish them。
Those who make rash promises rarely keep their word；
those who think things easy always find them hard。
That is why those who are enlightened treat everything as difficult；
so never meet with problems in the end。
64
It is easy to hold on to things at rest；
it is easy to plan for things not yet seen；
it is easy to shatter things that are fragile；
it is easy to scatter things that are small。
Deal with things before they arise；
set things in order before they are troubled。
A tree as big as one's embrace grows from a tiny shoot；
a tower nine storeys high rises from a heap of earth；
a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step。
Act； and you will ruin it；
seize hold of it； and you will lose it。
Those who are enlightened never act and therefore ruin nothing；
they never try to seize and therefore lose nothing。
In handling their affairs； people often fail just before success；
be as careful at the end as at the start； and there