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Come to the living water。
39
From its first days； the universe camefrom the One：
The heavens are one； and clear； andround because of it
The earth is one； and is its firminfused foundation 。 。 。
The spirit force is one； with allit brings into being …
The valley is a oneness； and so itflows and renews all things；
Everything is one … every living thingis one； and alive！
Kinds and lords are one in a kingdomthat is one：
And they can only rule truly becauseof the One。
If Heaven wasn't clear； then the skywould fall down。
If the earth cannot be peaceful； itwill tear itself apart。
If the Spirit cannot bless； then noone will believe in it …
If the valley can't rebirth； thenthe valley will run dry。
If life can't be itself； then lifewill be nothing：
And if the king is nothing； then theworld will be at war。
Everything has both yin and yang init …
and from their rise…and…fall…couplingcomes new life。
The highest authority needs the basementas its base；
And the depths are the foundationof the heights。
That is why rulers call themselveslonely；
like souls in a wilderness who haveno home。
And； in doing so； don't they see then
that their roots lie with the people？
To see yourself as extraordinary
is to stand out like jade among ordinarystones；
but what people ignore … the lonely；and the worthless
is the rock a true leader finds himselfon。
You see； you win by losing … and youlose by succeeding。
40
The Tao moves
in every direction at once …
its essence is fluid and yielding。
It is the marker of everything underthe sun：
And everything comes
out of nothing。
41
When the wisest student hears about theTao；
He follows it without ceasing
When the average student hears aboutit
He follows too； but not all the time。 。 。
And when the poor student gets windof it
he laughs at it like an idiot！
And if he didn't； then it wouldn'tbe the Tao！
That is why the ancient ones said：
The path that is bright seems dull；
And the one who is going towards theTao
Seems； in fact； to be going backwards…
And those who think that the Way iseasy
Will find it extremely hard。
The greatest virtue is to be emptylike a valley。
Those who think they are perfect neverare …
those who feel that they are feelinadequate to the task；
and morals seem to be no more thana contrivance。
A great square has no corners：
A great work is never done with；
A great shout comes from a whisper；
And the greatest of forms
is beyond shape。
Tao without substance …
Invisible …
Ever…creating
Forever creating
42
The Tao
gives birth to the One：
The One
gives birth tot he two；
The Two
give birth to the three …
The Three give birth to every livingthing。
All things are held in yin； and carryyang：
And they are held together in the ch'iof teeming energy。
43
The very softest thing of all
can ride like a galloping horse
through the hardest of things。
Like water； like water penetratingrock。
And so the invisible enters in。
That is why I know it is wise
to act by doing nothing。
And how few； how very few understandthis！
People teach in the world
what I know to be true：
if you live violently
that is how you will die。
44
What really matters most；
Your image or your soul？
What do you care about
You money； or your life？
What's actually the best；
Making it … or losing？
If you pour all your energy into onething；
You're sure to harm the rest of yourbeing
And if you invest it all in profit…
You'll end up losing the whole lot。
If you're not always wanting； you canbe at peace。
And if you're not always trying tobe someone
You can be who you really are
and go the whole way。
45
A great thing done is never perfect …
But that doesn't mean it fails： itdoes what it is。
Real richness means to act as if youhad nothing；
Because then you will never be drainedof it。
The greatest straightness seems bend；
The greatest ability seems awkward；
And the greatest speech； like a stammering。
Act calmly； not coldly。
Peace is greater than anger。
Tranquillity and harmony
are the true order of things。
46
'When the Tao runs the world；
the horses work the farms。'
Without Tao
the horses are led into war along theborders。
You see； if people want more and more
it can only lead to disaster。
Greed
is the seed of apocalypse …
it is the rocket…fuel of selfishness：
me； me； me！
If people could only be glad with allthey have；
if they only knew it； they'd be happy。
47
Without going anywhere；
you can know the whole world。
Without even opening your window；
you can know the ways of Heaven。
You see： the further away you go； theless you know
The sage doesn't need to travel around：
Why？ Because he can still understand。
He sees without needing 'to see'；
He never does anything； and yet
it all happens。
48
Usually； people read because they wantto know …
but the more you study the Tao； theless you want knowledge。
And as you want less and less； youcome closer to not…doing。
Wu…wei … this is the way to get thingsdone。
The best way to run the world
is to let it take its course
… and to get yourself
out of the way of it！
49
'The sage is never opinionated；
He listens to the mind of the people。'
I am kind to people when they are kindto me。
I am kind to them even if they hateme。
Virtue … te … is its own reward。
I trust those who trust me；
I also trust those who have no faithin me：
What I give； I receive。
A sage is self…effacing and mindfulof offence。
He sets himself as his own example。
How shall I treat you； my son？
Like a child。
50
In the normal way of things
every three in ten live long；
while every three in ten die young…
and for those just passing throughtheir lives
（that is； every three in ten） thechances are the same。
Why is this？
Well； it all depends on how identified
they are with the mundane world ofmatter。
People who know how to live
will never do things that threatentheir lives；
any more than a traveler who knows
will run into a tiger or a wild buffalo。
Living well is like wearing
a kind of armour that nothing canpenetrate。
Living badly is like being attacked！
A practiced sage is invulnerable toattacks
that punch like a buffalo's horn；
that claw like a leaping tiger …
or that stab like a knife in the back。
And why is this？
Because he is impeccable。
51
Everything streams from the Tao；
Everything is nurtured by Te
Everythi