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His method is called the Twofold Enlightenment。
He makes the perfect man the instructor of the imperfect；
The imperfect man is the ；aterial used by the perfect。
He who does not esteem his instructor；
He who does not love his material；
Is； nonwithstanding all his learning； deluded。
In this resides the fundamental secret。
28
He who while recognizing his manhood
Yet holds also to his womanhood；
Becomes a channel for all the world。
Bieng a channel for all the world；
Everlasting virtue will never leave him：
He goes back to the state of childhood。
He who knows the light that shines within him；
Yet veils himself in darkness；
Becomes a standard for the world。
Being a standard for the world；
Everlasting virtue cleaves to him：
He returns to the Never…shanging。
He who； knowing honour； yet dwells in humility
Becomes a valley for all the world。
Being a vlaley for all the world；
Everlasting virtue will abide in him：
He returns to Wholeness。
This Wholeness when broken may produce many useful instruments；
But used by the Sage； it becomes the minister of ministers。
And truly； the Greatest Ruler interferes the least。
29
Those who attempt to seize all under Heaven by force do not； in my experience； succeed。
The world is a sacred vessel and cannot be so handled。
Those who handle it； spoil it；
Those who grasp it； lose it。
For consider：
There are creatures who go ahead and others who follow after；
There are those who blow hot； and others who blow cold；
Some who feel strong when others fel weak；
Some who mount the wagon； while others fall off。
Therefore the Sage avoids the excesive； the extravagant； the grandiose。
30
He who relied on the Tao to aid a ruler of men
Would not sek to conquer with weapons。
The man of Tao holds back from such instruments of recoiling violence。
For where armies have camped there spring up thistles and thorns；
And in the wake of marching armies follow years of drought。
Having achieved his aim； the good commander stops；
He does not venture to follow up his advantages with greater force。
He achieves his aim； but does not plume himself。
He achieves his aim； but is not boastful。
He achieves his aim but is not proud of what he has done。
He achieves his aim by means which could not be avoided。
He achieves his aim wihtout violence。
For it is when creatures reach the climax of their strength that they start to grow old；
Thus violence runs counter to the Tao；
And what runs counter to the Tao is soon spent。
31
Weapons； however handsome； are none the less implements of evit portent； distrusted by all。
The man of Tao keeps them at a distance。
The man of breding； at home and at peace； esteems the left…hand place the place of honour。
But in war…time； when arms are used； things are reversed； and the right…hand becomes the place of honour。
Weapons are of il…omen； avoided by the wise man； who resorts to them only if he must。
To him； quiet and peace are his chief delight。
He takes no delight in conquest。
To delight in conquest is to delight in slaughter。
He who delights in slaughter cannot hope to work his will in the world。
32
The Never…changing Tao has no name。
It may appear； so simple is it； of small account；
Yet the whole world would not venture to subdue it。
If kings and princes were possessed of it；
Homage would be gladly paid to them by all the people in the world。
Heaven…and…Earth would sweeten them with the gentle dew。
The people； unconstrained by commands； would live in harmony。
That which functions； however； is named。
When naming starts； see that you know where to stop。
If you know where to stop； danger cannot touch you。
As the brooks and the streams flow into and become the rivers and seas；
So everything in the world flows into and is made one with the Tao。
33
To know others is to be clever；
To know oneself is to be enlightened。
He who conquers others has strength；
But he who conquers himself has strength and courage indeed。
To know when one has enough is to be rich。
He who pursues a course with energy may attain his goal；
But to remain in one's proper place is to endure；
And he who dies yet does no cease to be
Achieves the blessing of true longevity。
34
The great Tao flows in all directions：
To left； to right； at the same time。
To it all things owe their existence； for it rejects none。
Throught it all things are brought to perfection； but it lays no claim to them。
It clothes and nourishes them； but does not claim mastery over them。
Because it at no time makes demands on them； we may class it with the humble；
Because all things return home to it … and still it does not play the master … we may name it Supreme。
Thus it is with the Sage；
He never prides himself on greatness；
Therefore he achieves greatness。
35
Hold fast to the Great Idea； the Formless Form that is the Tao； and all men will come to you。
In you they will see no danger and meet no harm。
In you they will find stillness； safety； and peace。
Pleasant music and the smell of savoury dishes cause passing strangers pasing by to linger。
But how pure； how lacking in savour； are the utterances of the Tao！
Look for the Tao； and you see nothing！
Listen for the Tao； and there is nothing to be heard！
But use it； and you will find that it is inexhaustible。
36
If a thing is capable of being contracted； no doubt is was previously expanded；
It a thing is capable of being weakened； no doubt it was previously strengthened。
Exaltation precedes abasement。
He who would take must first give。
This is the Secret Law；
Whereby the soft and the weak overcome the hard and the strong。
Leave the fish in the depths of the water； out of harm's way；
And leave the nation's sharpest weapons where they cannot be seen。
37
The Tao is eternally inactive；
Yet nothing is left undone。
If kings and princes grasped this truly
All creatures would develop of themselves。
And if； as they developed； desires stirred within them；
I would curb them by the Simplicity…without…a…name。
This Simplicity…without…a…name leads to detachment from desire；
Detachment from desire leads to stillness。
And in this way the world； of itself； would reach Peace。
38
The highest power is not aware of itself as a power；
Hence its power。
The inferior power clings to the appearance of power：
Hence its lack of power。
The highest power works by non…action and has no ulterior aims。
The inferior power acts and claims recognition。
The highest loving…kindness acts without motive。
The highest justice acts with motive。
The highest ritual of convention and respectability acts； and if there is no response； force is used to compel respect。
Th