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be humble；
be earthy；
be a valley for the whole world。
Be a channel for the energies here…
weave them in a true and practicalway
so they can link up with the Way andbecome one again。
Oneness generates everything：
When the sage rules in the light ofit；
He rules everything。
A wise man never tries to break upthe Whole。
29
If a rules behaves as if he's inventedthe world；
He will do no good at all。
The earth is a sacred vessel …
and it cannot be owned or improved。
If you try to possess it； you willdestroy it：
If you try to hold on to it … youwill lose it。
Some are leaders； then； and other follow。
Some drift like the wind； and otherdrive hard。
Some are thick…skinned； and otherhave no armour；
And some are the destroyers； and othersthey destroy。
So now you know why
the sage abandons greed；
all false charm …
and every last iota of pride。
30
The Emperor's advisors will never recommendviolence
if they know what the Tao is。
If you use the strategy of warfare
it can only result in revenge。
After troops have tramped by
only weeds and nettles grow in thebroken ground。
There can be no harvest；
and everyone is left starving。
If you need to take action； only dowhat is necessary。
Never abuse your power。
And if you're successful； don't besmug；
If you are a success； don't trumpetit …
If you think you've won； never overdoit …
Those who use force soon end up withoutit …
And this is not the Way。
And if you do not follow the Way； youwill die。
31
The guide who walks the Way
Never resorts to violence。
The sage goes to the left side of theEmperor；
while the man of war goes to the right。
Weapons are terrible things …
and no sage will have anything todo with them；
unless there is no alternative。
The sage wants peace and quiet。
No victory is free of grief；
and so to celebrate one is to glory
in the death of innocent people。
No one who revels in death like this
can be true to the Way
or is fit to rule in our world。
At glad times； the place of honouris on the left：
after disaster； it is on the right。
So in the army； the officers standto the left
while the general stands to the right。
So the whole things is staged likea funeral。
When a war kills many； we must mournfor them …
And if you win the war； you must grieveit。
32
The Tao has no name
it is a cloud that has no shape。
If a ruler
follows it faithfully；
then every living thing under heavenwill say yes to him。
Heaven and earth make love；
And a sweet dew…rain falls。
The people do not know why；
But they are gathered together likemusic。
Things have been given names from thebeginning。
We need to know when we have enoughnames： this is wisdom。
At the beginning of time
The sage gave names to everything… see； and unseen。
A ruler who walks the Way
Is like a river reaching the sea
Gathering the waters of the streams
into himself；
as he goes。
33
When you know the true being of another；
You can judge …
And if you truly know the Tao
you will be in the light。
It takes force to control people：
but if I am humble； I can never beovercome。
If you know what you have is enough
you will be satisfied。
But if you think you don't have enough
then you will never have enough！
If you follow the Tao； what you arewill last。
You will live； and live； and outliveyourself again。
34
The Great Tao goes everywhere
past your left hand and your right…
filling the whole of space。
It is breath to every thing； and yetit asks for nothing back；
It feeds and creates everything； butit will never tell you so。
It nurtures all things
without lording it over anything。
It names itself in the lowest of thelow。
It holds what it makes；
Yet never fights to do so：
that is why we call it Great。
Why？ Because it never tires to be so。
35
Everyone will gather to the man
Who rules in the light of the One。
To trust such a being is to live
In true happiness and healing。
Good food and sweet music
May make you stop …
You listen； in passing。
But the Tao： how does it seem？
Oh； tasteless and shapeless by comparison。
You cannot even hear it。
It is even worth trying to？
Yes； my friend
because it is unending。
36
What is going to be diminished
Must first be allowed to inflate。
Whatever you want to weaken
Must first be convinced of its strength。
What you want to overcome
You must first of all submit to 。。 。
What you want to take over
You must first of all give to …
This is called discerning。
You see； what is yielding and weak
Overcomes what is hard and strong：
（And just as a fish can't be seen
when he stays down in the deep
don't show your power to anyone）。
37
The Tao goes on forever
wu…wei … doing nothing
And yet everything gets done。
How？ It does it by being；
And by being everything it does。
If people and rulers go by this
then every living thing will be well。
And if parts still want to separate
the true leader will use
the centrifugal weight
of this original
unnameable Oneness。
It is simple：
If no one wants anything for themselves
then there can be peace
and all things will know peace
the way music
ends in peace。
38
The highest kind of man
Has innate goodness；
And that is what he rules with。
The lesser man brags about how goodhe is …
And isn't much good； I can tell you。
A man of Te rules by wu…wei
Doing nothing for himself or of himself。
The lesser man acts from his ego
And what he wants is gratification。
A man who rules with compassion
Acts through it … and no one evenrealizes。
A legal man acts judiciously
But he is still serving his own ends。
And the rigid man uses laws
And if people don't like it； force。
If the true Tao is lost
then morality takes its place。
If that fails； we have 'conscience'。
When that fades； we get 'justice'。
When that disappears； we have the statusquo。
Confusion reigns。 No one knows
what's going on。 Forecasts
and prophecies abound …
and they are merely a gloss on theTao；
they are the root of all
twisted guidance。
So the sage only looks at what is reallyreal。
He doesn't just look at the surface…
He blows away the dust and drinksthe water 。 。 。
He doesn't just go for the flower
But also for the roots and the fruit。
Blow away the dust； now：
Come to the living water。
39
From its first days； the universe camefrom the One：
The he