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Know the bright； keep to the dull。
Be a guide for the world； follow your innate nature without changing and return to the pre…conceptual。
Understand glory； keep to humility。
Be the valley for the world。
Innate nature completed； return to original uniqueness。
When original uniqueness is divided；
It then becomes the instrumentalities。
The Sage employs them；
They then become the officers；
Thus； subtle governance shapes not。
29
If one strives to be the ruler of the world； I do not see how they can succeed。
The world is a vessel for the spirit which cannot be acted upon。
Those who act upon it destroy it。
Those who try to hold on to it lose it。
Therefore； things either move forward or fall behind；
Puff strongly or weakly； grow powerful or become weak；
Persevere or fall。
And therefore； the enlightened do away with excess； extravagances and extremes。
30
Those who use Tao to help the ruler never use arms to force the world。
Such affairs tend to easily rebound。
Brambles grow where an army camps。
Famine is sure to follow a war。
Subtly arrange the outcome and nothing more。
Dare not use force。
After the outcome do not be complacent。 A
fter the outcome do not be smug。
After the outcome do not be conceited。
Overcome only because there is no choice。
Overcome but do not force。
When things have matured； they are old。
This is not Tao。
That which runs counter to the Tao is soon finished。
31
The finest weapons are still instruments of misfortune。
Everything hates them； therefore； those who follow the Tao avoid them。
In peacetime； the nobleman regards the left side of the host as the place of honour。
In wartime； he regards the right side of the commander as the place of honour。
Since weapons are inauspicious instruments； they are not the instruments of a noble man。
He uses them only when necessary； for peace and quiet are what he holds highest。
To him even a victory is not worthy of celebration。
Those who celebrate it take pleasure in the slaughter of men。
Those that take pleasure in the slaughter of men consequently cannot have their way in the world。
On auspicious occasions； the place of honour is to the left of the host；
On inauspicious occasions the place of honour is to the right of the commander。
In the military the lesser commander stand on the left； while the commander in chief stands on the right； the same as in the etiquette of funerary rites。
When many people have been killed there is mourning； grief and tears。
Hence； even victory is treated according to funerary rites。
32
Tao is always without a name。
Small as it may be in its original uniqueness；
It is inferior to no power in the world。
If a ruler can cleave to it；
All beings will pay homage to him。
Heaven and earth mingle in harmony and a sweet liquor rains down。
Without command from above peace and order spread among the people。
With the genesis of the world； names appeared。
There are so many names； is it not time to stop？
Knowing when to stop is to be free from danger。
Tao is to the world as a valley or brook is to a river or ocean。
33
One who knows others is intelligent；
One who knows himself is enlightened。
One who conquers men is strong；
One who conquers himself has strength。
One who knows sufficiency is rich。
One who pursues his objective with steadfastness has willpower。
One who does not lose what he has gained is durable。
One who dies yet still remains has longevity。
34
The great Tao is so all pervasive； how can we tell where its right or left is？
All things depend on it for growth； and it requires nothing from them。
It accomplishes its work； but makes no claim for itself。
It clothes and feeds all； but it does not control them。
Everlasting Non…desire is called 〃the lesser。〃
That all things return to it and yet it does not control them is called 〃the greater。〃
Because it never insists on its greatness； Its greatness becomes a reality。
35
The world moves toward the possessor of the great image。
Moving toward him there is no harm； only peace and order。
The passing guest pauses for sweetmeats and music。
The Tao that can be uttered seems bland； even flavourless。
It does not appear noteworthy。 It does not sound worth listening to。
It has unlimited uses。
36
That which should be reduced； must first be enlarged。
That which should be weakened； must first be strengthened。
That which should be abolished； must first be established。
That which should be taken away； must first be given。
Softness and suppleness overcome hardness and strength。
Fish cannot leave the depths。
The sharpest weapons of the state must not be displayed。
37
Tao never makes a name for itself；
Yet there is nothing it does not do。
If a ruler can cleave to it；
All beings will eventually change by themselves。
After this change； when they desire to act；
He will keep them in their places with original uniqueness of the Nameless。
Eventually there will be Non…desire。
If no desire arises； then serenity；
And eventually the world will settle by itself。
38
Superior Te does not reveal its Te； thereby retaining it。
Inferior Te cannot rid itself of the appearance of Te； and thereby loses te。
Superior Te practices Non…action and has no private ends to serve。
Inferior Te both acts and has private ends to serve。
Superior humanism acts but has no private ends to serve。
Superior justice both acts and has private ends to serve。
Superior etiquette not only acts but； getting no response； tries to enforce its will with raised fists。
Thus； if Tao is lost； Te appears。
If Te is lost； humanism appears。
If humanism is lost； justice appears。
If justice is lost； etiquette appears。
When conscience and honesty wear thin；
Etiquette is the beginning of strife。
As to prescience； it is merely a blossom of Tao； and the beginning of stupidity。
That is why the truly cultivated man takes generosity for his location； and does not dwell on the meanness；
Focuses on the fruit； and does not dwell on the blossom。
So he avoids the one and chooses the other。
39
In times past； Oneness appeared in the following pattern：
The heavens attained Oneness and became clear；
The earth attained Oneness and settled；
The spirits attained Oneness and became numinous；
Valleys attained Oneness and became reproductive；
All things attained Oneness and became alive；
Kings and queens attained Oneness and became the orthodox of the world。
In the heavens； that which is not clear eventually settles。
On the earth； that does not settle dissipates。
Spirits which are not luminous disappear。
Valleys not filled will dry up。
Creatures that do not reproduce become extinct。
King