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Stop talking； withdraw from the rat杛ace； calm your spirit；
untangle yourself； soften your glare。
Be one with the dust of the earth。
This is primal union。
Achieving union with the Tao places one beyond
attraction and repulsion； benefit and harm； honor and disgrace。
This is the highest state of being。
57
In governing； employ no surprises。
In waging war； employ only surprises。
Win the world with non朼do。
How do I know this？ Like this！
The more rules and regulations there are；
the poorer the people become。
The more experts there are； the more confusion there is。
The more skillful and clever technicians there are；
the more horrifying inventions are produced。
The more 〃law and order〃 there is； the higher the crime杛ate。
Therefore； the Tao朚aster says；
I do nothing； and the people govern themselves。
I practice keeping quiet； and the people find justice。
I seek emptiness； and the people prosper。
I have no desires； and the people return
to a natural and simple life。
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When the government is restrained；
the people are happy and satisfied。
When the government meddles in everything；
the people are disgruntled and miserable。
Happiness eclipses misery。
Misery eclipses happiness。
Which will it be？
The straight becomes crooked。
Good becomes evil。
The people remain bewildered。
Thus； the Tao朚aster is sharp but not cutting； incisive but not biting；
straight but not controlling； bright but not glaring。
59
In governing the country and serving Heaven； show restraint。
Showing restraint is submission to the Tao。
Submission to the Tao will fill you with Te。
Being filled with Te； there will be no limit to your power；
and there will be nothing you cannot overcome。
When there is nothing you cannot overcome；
you will be a true ruler indeed。
You will be one with the country。
You will be the Mother of the country。
Being the Mother of the country；
you will have deep roots and a firm base。
Your reign will be long杔asting。
This is the Tao of long life and eternal vision。
60
Rule a large country as you would cook a small fish。
Follow the Tao； and evil will be subdued。
Evil will still be there； but it won't be able to do much harm。
The Tao朚aster does no harm。
If no harm is done； then the power of the Tao can flow on。
61
A great country is like a sea into which all streams flow；
the Female of the world。
The Female overcomes the Male with stillness。
The woman overcomes the man by lying underneath him。
Therefore； a great country dominates a small country by submitting to it；
and a small country can dominate a great country by submitting to it。
Yield and conquer。
A great country wants to unite and shelter people。
A small country wants to come in and be sheltered。
Each gets what it wants。
Thus； the great country should yield。
62
The Tao is the source of all things；
the good man's treasure； the bad man's refuge。
You can buy beautiful words。
You can build your reputation with good deeds。
But even bad people can use beautiful words and perform good deeds。
So when the new emperor is crowned
（and the three ministers of state are installed）；
do not send gifts of jade and four杊orse chariots。
Instead； be still； and offer the Tao。
The ancients treasured the Tao because； when you seek it； you find it；
through the Tao； even sinners receive forgiveness。
That is why everybody loves the Tao。
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Act without ado； work without effort。
Taste the tasteless； treat the small as large and the few as many。
Reward evil with goodness。
Take on the difficult while it is still easy； the large while it is still small。
Difficult always begins as easy； large always begins as small。
Therefore； the Tao朚aster never tries to be great。
As a result； he accomplishes great things。
Big promises produce little trust。
Treating something as quite easy makes it very difficult。
The Tao朚aster regards everything as difficult；
which means that； for him； everything is easy。
64
That which is lying still is easy to pick up。
That which has not yet happened is easy to prevent。
That which is brittle is easily shattered。
That which is small is easily scattered。
Deal with things before they become problems。
Straighten things out before they become confused。
A huge tree begins as a tiny sprout。
A terrace nine storeys high begins as a small pile of dirt。
The giant pine tree grows from a tiny sprout。
A thousand杕ile journey begins with a single step。
Intrude and ruin。
Grasp and lose。
Therefore； the Tao朚aster practices non朼do and so does not ruin；
he is not grasping and so does not lose。
People often fail just when they are about to succeed。
Be as careful at the end as you are at the beginning；
and you will not fail。
Therefore； the Tao朚aster desires no杁esire；
treasures no treasures； studies no studies。
He pays attention to what others have ignored。
He helps all things find their center；
all without ado。
65
The ancient rulers who followed the Tao
did not try to enlighten the people；
but rather aimed at making them dull。
People are hard to govern because they are so clever。
Rulers who seek to enlighten the people
are like bandits who prey upon the land。
Rulers who forget about enlightening the people
are a real blessing to the nation。
Remember these two enduring principles：
they represent the power ＇Te＇ of the Tao。
Te goes deep and far。
All things turn back and reach original harmony。
66
Great rivers and seas are kings to hundreds of lesser streams
because they lie lower than the lesser streams。
To stand above； you must speak from below。
To lead； you must follow behind。
This is how the ruler who follows the Tao
stands above and leads the people。
And in this way；
the people are neither overburdened nor oppressed。
The whole nation supports such a ruler。
He contends with no one； and no one contends with him。
67
Many consider my teaching to be nonsense。
But the profound is a lot like nonsense。
If a teaching does not seem nonsensical； then it must be trivial。
I have three treasures to guard and preserve：
The first is compassion。
The second is self杛estraint。
The third is not wanting to be ahead of others。
Compassion breeds fortitude。
Self杛estraint breeds generosity。
Not wanting to be ahead of others breeds leadership。
These days； people want courage without compassion；
generosity without self杛estraint； and
leadership without the willingness to be led。
This is death。
Compassion rules！
On the attack； it wins。
On the defense； it holds the fort。
It is Heaven's means of aid and protection。
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