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The scholar seeketh daily increase of knowing； the sage of Tao daily
decrease of doing。
He decreaseth it； again and again； until he doth no act with the lustof
result。 Having attained this Inertia all accomplisheth itself。
He who attracteth to himself all that is under Heaven doth so without
effort。 He who maketh effort is not able to attract it。
49
49。THE ADAPTABILITY OF THE THE
The wise man hath no fixed principle； he adapteth his mind to his
environment。
To the good I am good； and to the evil I am good also； thus all become
good。 To the true I am true； and to the false I am true； thus all become
true。
The sage appeareth hesitating to the world； because his mind is detached。
Therefore the people look and listen to him； as his children； and thus
doth he shepherd them。
？br》 ？br》
50
THE ESTIMATION OF LIFE
Man cometh into life； and returneth again into death。
Three men in ten conserve life； three men in ten pursue death。
Three men also in ten desire to live； but their acts hasten their journey
to the house of death。 Why is this？ Because of their efforts to
preserve life。
But this I have heard。 He that is wise in the economy of his life；
whereof he is warden for a season； journeyeth with no need to avoidthe
tiger or the rhinoceros； and goeth uncorsleted among the warriors withno
fear of sword or lance。 The rhinoceros findeth in him no place vulnerable
to its horn； the tiger to its claws； the weapon to its point。 Why is
this？ Because there is no house of death in his whole body。 ｛56｝
51
THE TEH AS THE NURSE
All things proceed from the Tao； and are sustained by its forth…flowing
virtue。 Every one taketh form according to his nature； and is perfect；
each in his particular Way。 Therefore； each and every one of them
glorify the Tao； and worship its forth…flowing Virtue。
This glorifying of the Tao； this worship of the Teh； is constantly
spontaneous； and not by appointment of Law。
Thus the Tao buddeth them out； nurtureth them； developeth them；
sustaineth them； perfecteth them； ripeneth them； upholdeth them； and
reabsorbeth them。
It buddeth them forth； and claimeth not lordship over them； it is
overseer of their changes； and boasteth not of his puissance； perfecteth
them； and interfereth not with their Ways； this is called the Mysteryof
its Virtue。
52
THE WITHDRAWAL INTO THE SILENCE
The Tao buddeth forth all things under Heaven； it is the Mother ofall。
Knowing the Mother； we may know her offspring。 He that knoweth his
Mother； and abideth in Her nature； remaineth in surety all his days。
With the mouth closed； and the Gates of Breath controlled； he remaineth
at ease all his days。 With the mouth open； and the Breath directedto
outward affairs； he hath no surety all his days。
To perceive that Minute Point is True Vision； to maintain the
Soft and Gentle is True Strength。
Employing harmoniously the Light Within so that it
returneth to its Origin； one guardeth even one's body from evil； and
keepeth Silence before all men。
53
THE WITNESS OF GREED
Were I discovered by men； and charged with government； my first wouldbe
lest I should become proud。
The true Path is level and smooth； but men love by…paths。
They adorn their courts； but they neglect their fields； and leave their
storehouses empty。 They wear elaborate and embroidered robes； theygird
themselves with sharp swords； they eat and drink with luxury； theyheap
up goods； they are thievish and vainglorious。 All this is oppositeto
the Way of Tao。
54
THE WITNESS OF WISDOM
If a man plant according to the Tao it will never be uprooted； if hethus
gather； it will never be lost。 His sons and his son's sons； one
following another； shall honour the shrine of their ancestor。
The Tao； applied to oneself； strengtheneth the Body； to the
family； bringeth wealth； to the district； prosperity； to
the state； great fortune。 Let it be the Law of the Kingdom； and
all men will increase in virtue。
Thus we observe its effect in every case； as to the person； the family；
the district； the state； and the kingdom。
How do I know that this is thus universal under Heaven？
By experience。
55
THE SPELL OF THE MYSTERY
He that hath the Magick powers of the Tao is like a young child。
Insects will not sting him or beasts or birds of prey attack him。
The young child's bones are tender and its sinews are elastic； but its
grasp is firm。 It knoweth nothing of the Union of Man and Woman； yetits
Organ may be excited。 This is because of its natural perfection。 Itwill
cry all day long without becoming hoarse； because of the harmony ofits
being。
He who understandeth this harmony knoweth the mystery of the Tao； and
becometh a True Sage。 All devices for inflaming life； and increasingthe
vital Breath； by mental effort are evil and
factitious。
Things become strong； then age。 This is in discord with the Tao； and
what is not at one with the Tao soon cometh to an end。
56
THE EXCELLENCE OF THE MYSTERY
Who knoweth the Tao keepeth Silence； he who babbleth knoweth it not。
Who knoweth it closeth his mouth and controlleth the Gates of his Breath。
He will make his sharpness blunt； he will loosen his complexes； hewill
tone down his brightness to the general obscurity。 This is called the
Secret of Harmony。
He cannot be insulted either by familiarity or aversion； he is immuneto
ideas of gain or loss； of honour or disgrace； he is the true man；
unequalled under Heaven。
57
THE TRUE INFLUENCE
One may govern a state by restriction； weapons may be used with skilland
cunning； but one acquireth true command only by freedom； given andtaken。
How am I aware of this？ By experience that to multiply restrictive laws
in the kingdom impoverisheth the people； the use of machines causeth
disorder in state and race alike。 The more men use skill and cunning；
the more machines there are； and the more laws there are； the morefelons
there are。
A wise man has said this： I will refrain from doing； and the peoplewill
act rightly of their own accord； I will love Silence； and the peoplewill
instinctively turn to perfection； I will take no measures； and thepeople
will enjoy true wealth； I will restrain ambition； and the people will
attain simplicity。
58
ADAPTATION TO ENVIRONMENT
The government that exerciseth the least care serveth the people best；
that which meddleth with everybody's business worketh all manner ofharm。
Sorrow and joy are bedfellows； who can divine the final result of either？
Shall we avoid restriction？ Yea； restriction distorteth nature； so that
even what seemeth good in it is evil。 For how long have men suffered
from misunderstanding