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Therefore； the skillful person is the teacher
of the person without skill。
The person withont skill is the material
for the skillfirl person。
If you do not respect the teacher；
if you do not care for the material；
you are on the road to confusion
and your cleverness will not save you。
This is an essential principle。
28
Develop the strength of a man；
but live as gently as a woman。
Become a brook and receive all things under heaven。
If you are such a brook
then Virtue will constantly flow into you
and you will become a simple child again。
Know thew pure
but live the life of the sullied。
Become a fountain to all things under heaven。
If you bccome such a fountain
then you will have abundant Virtue
and you will return to the state of the Uncarved Block。
When the Uncarved Block is cut up into pieces；
it is turned into specialized instruments。
But the True Person makes use of it whole
and becomes the master of the instruments。
Hence； it is said； 〃The finest carver cuts little。〃
29
Whoever wishes to take over the world
will not succeed。
The world is a sacred vessel
and nothing should be done to it。
Whoever tries to tamper with it
will mar it。
Whoever tries to grab it
will lose it。
Hence； there is a time to go ahead
and a tirne to stay behind。
There is a time to breathe easy
and a time to breathe hard。
There is a tirne to be vigorous
and a tirrle to be gentle。
There is a tine to gather
and a time to release。
Therefore； the True Person avoids extremes；
self…indulgence； and extravagance。
30
If you would assist leaders of people
by way of the Tao；
you will oppose the use of armed force to overpower
the world。
Those who use weapons will be harmed by them。
Where troops have camped only thorn bushes grow。
Bad harvests follow in the wake of a great army。
The skillful person strikes the blow and stops；
without taking advantage of victory。
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be vain。
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be boastful。
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be arrogant。
Bring it to a conclusion but only when there is no choice。
Bring it to a conclusion but without violence。
When force is rlsed； youthful strength decays。
This is not the way of Tao。
And that which goes against the Tao
will quickly pass away。
31
Weapons are ill…omened things。
Among gentle people the left side
is the place of honor when at home；
but in war the right side is the place of honor。
Weapons are not proper instruments for gentle people；
they use them only when they have no other choice。
Peace and quiet are what they value。
They do not glory in victory。
to glorify it is to delight in the slaughter of people。
Those who delight in the slaughter of people will
never thrive among all that dwell under heaven。
The army that has killed people
should be received with sorrow。
Conquerors should be received with the rites of mourning。
32
The Tao is forever nameless。
Though the Uncarved Block is small；
it is not inferior to anything under heaven。
lf leaders could keep hold of it；
the ten thousand things would submit to them freely。
Heaven and earth would unite and sweet dew would fall。
The people would live in harmony
without any law or decree。
Only when the Block is carved are there names。
As soon as there are names
it is timc to stop。
Knowing when to stop prevents trouble。
All under heaven will return to the Tao
as brooks and streams flow home to the sea。
33
Knowing others is to be clever。
Knowing yourself is to be enlightened。
Overcoming others requires force。
Overcoming yourself requires strength。
To know that you have enough is to be rich。
Push through and you may get your way；
but return home and you will endure。
Live out your days and you have had a long life。
34
The great Tao covers everything like a flood。
lt flows to the left and to the right。
The ten thousand things depend upon it
and it denies none of them。
It accomplishes its task yet claims no reward。
It clothes and feeds the ten thousand things
yet it does not attempt to control them。
Therefore； it may be called 〃the little。〃
The ten thousand things return to it；
even though it does not control them。
Therefore； it may be called 〃the great。〃
So it is that the True Person does not wish to be great
and therefore becomes truly great。
35
Hold on to the Great Image
and all under heaven will approach you。
Coming to you and not being harmed；
they will find rest； peace； and security。
A passing guest will pause at the sound of music
and the smell of fancy food。
By comparison the Tao is mild and flavorless。
It is not solid enough to be seen；
nor loud enough to be heard。
Yet； it lasts forever。
36
That which is to be shrunk
must first be stretched out。
That which is to be weakened
must first be strengthened。
That which is to be cast down
must first be raised up。
That which is to be taken
must first be given。
There is wisdom in dimming your light。
For the soft and gentle
will overcome the hard and powerful。
Fish are best left in deep waters。
And； weapons are best kept out of sight。
37
The Tao never strives；
yet nothing is left undone。
If leaders were able to adhere to it
the ten thousand things would develop
of their own accord。
If after they have developed
they experience desires to strive；
they can bury those desires
under the nameless Uncarved Block。
The nameless Uncarved Block can protect
against desire。
When desires are restrained there will be peace；
and then all under heaven will be at rest。
THE SECOND BOOK： Te （Virtue）
38
A person of high virtue is not conscious of virtue
and therefore possesses Virtue。
A person of little virtue tries to be virtuous
and therefore lacks Virtue。
A person of high vir…tue does not make a fuss
and is not seen。
A person of little virtue always makes a fuss
and is always seen。
A truly good person functions without ulterior motive。
A moralist acts out of private desires。
A ritualist acts and； when no one responds；
rolls up a sleeve and marches。
When we lose the Tao； we turn to Virtue。
When we lose Virtue； we turn to kindness。
When we lose kindness； we turn to morality。
When we lose morality； we turn to ritual。
Ritual is the mere husk of good faith and loyalty
and the beginning of disorder。
Knowledge of what is to come
may be a flower of the Tao；
but it is the beginning of folly。
Hence； the well…formed person rel