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So； perceiving the minute is 〃sagaciousness；〃
Remaining soft and weak is 〃powerfulness。〃
Using one's contained light and reverting to one's sagaciousness of knowing the minute；
And thus keeping oneself from disaster； is to become accustomed to the eternal Way。
53
If I have a certain knowledge；
I will go along the highway （Great Tao）；
And I will be afraid on nothing but the oblique way。
The highway is very even；
But the people are fond of the shortcut。
（Those who make） the palace very clear and neat； the field uncultivated and weedy； the granary empty and vacant； wearing glorious and coloured clothes； carrying precious and sharp swords； satiated with exquisite food and drink； possessing an abundance of wealth and property； can be called chieftain to robbers。
That is contrary to rationality （Tao）。
54
He who is good at building cannot be shaken；
And he who is good at holding can lose nothing。
（According to the principle；） he can enjoy the sacrifice for posterity forever。
His 〃De〃 can be pure and true by carrying out the principle in his person；
His 〃De〃 can be abundant by carrying it out in his family；
His 〃De〃 can lead by carrying it out in the neighbourhood；
His 〃De〃 can be powerful by carrying it out in the state；
His 〃De〃 can be universal by carrying it out in the kingdom；
So （we should） His 〃De〃 can be abundant by carrying it out in his family；
Know a person in the perspective of a person；
Know a family in the perspective of a family；
Know a neighbourhood in the perspective of a neighbourhood；
Know a state in the perspective of a state；
Know the kingdom in the perspective of a kingdom。
How do I know the situation of all the things under Heaven？
By the method mentioned above。
55
The profundity of De contained should be compared to an ignorant infant without desires；
Whom poisonous insects will not sting；
Whom fierce brutes will not seize；
Whom birds of prey will not attack；
Whose bones are weak and whose sinews are soft； but whose grasp is firm；
Who does not yet know about intercourse of male and female but whose virile member may be excited； because it is full of physical essence；
Who cries all day long without its throat becoming hoarse； because it is peaceful and without desires。
To know the peace is called the eternal；
To know the eternal is called wisdom。
The desire for life enjoyment is a disaster；
And to subject physical essence to desire is to boast of powerfulness。
Things begin to become old when they have grown strong； which may be said to be contrary to Tao。
Contrariness to Tao brings death with it very soon。
56
He who knows does not speak；
And he who speaks does not know。
Blocking the vent （of knowledge）； closing the door （of knowledge）； covering the cutting…edge； going beyond entanglement； containing the light； and mixing with the dust；
… These can be called 〃the mysterious agreement。〃
So； （the person with 〃the mysterious agreement〃）
Cannot be treated intimately；
Cannot be estranged；
Cannot be given profits；
Cannot be injured；
Cannot be raised to nobility；
And cannot be made humble；
And can therefore be esteemed by all the people under Heaven。
57
A state should be governed in a natural way；
A war should be prosecuted in an unusual way；
And the kingdom should be controlled by doing nothing。
How do I know that it is so？
On the grounds：
In the kingdom the more prohibitive enactments there are； the poorer the people become；
The more weapons the people have； the greater disorder the state and clan fall into；
The more crafts and technics men possess； the more strange contrivances appear；
The more display of statutes there is； the more robbers and thieves there are。
So the sage said：
〃I do nothing； then the people submit spontaneously；
I am fond of keeping still； then the people are righteous spontaneously；
I take no trouble； and the people naturally enrich themselves；
I have no desires； then the people naturally remain in primitive simplicity。〃
58
When the government is generous； the people will be honest and loyal；
When the government is severe； the people will complain。
O Misery！ Happiness lies by its side；
O Happiness！ Misery lurks beneath it。
Who knows the destination？
There is no master indeed。
The normal can at anytime become the abnormal；
The good can at anytime become the evil。
The delusion of the people （on this point） has persisted for a long time。
Therefore the sages is right as a square； but not stiff； has edges； but cuts nobody。
He is straightforward； but not aggressive； bright； but not dazzling。
59
For the rule of the people and the service of Heaven； there is nothing better than the principle of 〃parsimony。〃
Only by 〃parsimony〃 can one be unhurried and get ready early。
Being unhurried and getting ready early is what I call the repeated accumulation of the 〃De〃 of 〃parsimony。〃
With the repeated accumulation of De； one can victoriously overcome any obstacles。
The power which can overcome any obstacles is immeasurable。
With immeasurable power one can govern a state。
Having the foundation of government； one can maintain sovereignty very long。
This is called the Way in which one can plant the roots deep and make the stalks firm and maintain a long life。
60
Governing a great state is like frying a small fish （so frequent disturbance should be avoided）。
Applying Tao to the kingdom can render ghosts harmless。
It is not that ghosts cannot function；
But that the function cannot harm men；
It is not that the function cannot harm men；
But that the sage never harms men at all。
So； men and ghosts will not harm each other；
Therefore both （men and ghosts） praise the De of the sage。
61
A great state lies lower （like rivers and seas into which all streams run）；
To it all things under Heaven tend；
It considers itself as the female under Heaven。
The female always overcomes the male by stillness； because it is still and lies lower。
Therefore； a great state can； by lowering itself to small states； make the small states rely upon the big states。
Small states can； by lowering themselves to a great state； win trust from it。
Thus a great state sometimes makes small states rely upon it by lowering itself。
And sometimes； small states win the trust from a great state only by lowering themselves。
What the great state desires is to lead the small states；
And what the small states desire is to serve the great state。
Then each side gets what it desires；
But the great state should especially learn to lower itself。
62
Tao； as the abyss where all things are hidden； is effective and precious to good men； and must also be preserved by bad men。
Eloquent words can purchase honour from others；
And admirable deeds can put one above o