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If you are too attached
to your possessions；
they will bring you misery。
If you hang on to your riches；
you will suffer substantial loss。
If you know when you have enough；
you will never be disgraced。
If you practice moderation；
you can stay out of trouble。
And that's the secret to lasting success。
45
The greatest achievements
may look like mistakes；
but you will always be able
to build upon them。
The fullest reserves may seem empty；
but you will always be able
to draw upon them。
The straightest line looks crooked。
The most skilled people
come off as clumsy。
The most eloquent people
are usually silent。
When it's cold；
you can move around to stay warm。
When it's hot；
you should keep still and stay cool。
But whatever the weather；
if you stay calm；
the world will sort itself out around you。
46
〃When the world is right with Tao；〃
Lao Tzu said；
〃horses haul fertilizer to the fields。
When the world loses touch with Tao；
horses are trained for cavalry。〃
Nothing is more insidious than possession。
Nothing is more dangerous than desire。
Nothing is more disastrous than greed。
If you know when enough is enough；
you will always have enough。
47
You don't have to leave your room
to understand what's happening in the world。
You don't have to look out the window
to appreciate the beauty of heaven。
The farther you wander；
the less you know。
The Masters don't wander around
They know。
They don't just look。
They understand。
They don't do anything；
but the work gets done。
48
Usually；
we try to learn something new every day。
But if we want to get right with Tao；
we have to let go of something every day。
We do less and less；
until we end up doing nothing。
And it's when we do nothing
that we get the job done。
Let events take their course；
and everything will turn out
in your favor。
If you act on your ambitions；
they will never pan out。
49
The Masters
don't make up their minds。
They turn their thoughts
to other people。
They are good to good people；
and they're good to bad people。
This is real goodness。
They have faith in the faithful；
and they have faith in the unfaithful。
This is real faith。
A Master throws himself
into the world completely；
forgetting everything he's been told。
People pay attention to him
because he lives a life of child…like wonder。
50
People who look
for the secret of long life
wind up dead。
Their bodies are the focus of their lives
and the source of their death；
because they think a healthy body
is all there is to life。
Lao Tzu used to say
a man who truly understood life
could walk through the jungle
without fear
or across a battlefield
without armor； totally unarmed。
Wild animals and weapons couldn't kill him。
I know； I know：
what the hell does that mean？
〃Well； he couldn't be killed；〃
Lao Tzu said；
〃because his body
wasn't where he kept his death。〃
51
Tao is the source of all living things；
and they are nourished
by Tao's power。
They are influenced
by the other living things around them；
and they are shaped
by their circumstances。
Everything respects Tao
and honors its power。
That's just the way it is。
Tao gives life to all things；
and its power watches out for them；
cares for them； helps them grow；
protects them； and comforts them。
Create something
without holding on to it。
Do the work
without expecting credit for it。
Lead people
without giving them orders。
That's the secret of the power of Tao。
52
Everything starts with Tao；
the mother of all things。
If you know the mother；
you know the children。
If you know the children
and remember the mother；
you have nothing to fear in your life。
Shut your mouth and keep still；
and your life will be full of happiness。
If you talk all the time；
always doing something；
your life will be hopeless。
It takes insight to see subtlety。
It takes strength
to yield gently to force。
Use that strength
to hang on to your insight；
and you will always be at peace。
That's how to get right with Tao。
53
If I had any sense；
I'd be trying to get right with Tao；
and the only thing I'd worry about
would be messing up。
It's not that hard to get right with Tao；
but people are easily distracted。
〃When the king's palace is full of treasure；〃
Lao Tzu said；
〃ordinary people's fields
are smothered with weeds；
and the food supplies run out。〃
Today； you see sharply dressed people
carrying flashy weapons
and living the high life。
They own more
than they could ever use；
let alone need。
They're nothing
but gangsters and crooks。
That's not what Tao's about。
54
Tao's power is so deeply entrenched
it can never be uprooted。
Tao's power clings so tightly
it can never slip away。
It will endure for generations。
If you get in touch
with the power of Tao；
it will become real。
If your family gets in touch
with the power of Tao；
the power will flourish。
If your community gets in touch
with the power of Tao；
the power will grow even stronger。
If your country gets in touch
with the power of Tao；
the power will become abundant。
If the world gets in touch
with the power of Tao；
the power will be everywhere。
How can I know this？
I just do。
55
A person filled with the power of Tao
is like a baby boy：
bees can't sting him；
wild beasts can't attack him。
A baby has soft bones
and weak muscles；
but a firm grip。
He hasn't had sex；
but he can get an erection。
That's because he's got lots of energy。
He can cry all day
and never lose his voice。
That's because he's at one with his world。
If you're at one with the world；
you know constancy。
And if you know constancy；
you've been enlightened。
It's not healthy
to try to prolong your life。
It's unnatural to impose the mind's will
upon the body。
People waste time and energy
trying to be strong or beautiful；
and their strength and beauty fade。
They've lost touch with Tao；
and when you lose touch with Tao；
you might as well be dead。
56
Those who know； don't talk。
Those who talk； don't know。
Shut your mouth。
Be still。 Relax。
Let go of your worries。
Stay out of the spotlight。
Be at one with the world
and get right with Tao。
If you get right with Tao；
you won't be wo