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… Quieting speech。
… Subduing sensations。
… Dulling sharpness。
… Releasing entanglements。
… Diffusing brightness。
… Uniting with the dust of the earth。
This is the primal and mystical unity。
Possessing this unity； the Sage：
Makes no friends or enemies …
Is moved by neither love nor hate …
Is unaffected by profit or loss；
By neither honor nor disgrace。
Thus he attains the highest of human states。
57
GOVERNMENT
With justice and righteousness； Nations are well governed。
With cunning strategy； Wars are successfully waged。
Through Wu…Wei； All Things are mastered。
Intuitively； this is felt：
Prohibitions and restrictions being many …
Being burdened with ritual avoidance；
The people become poorer。
Weapons being in abundance；
The state increasingly abounds in wars； chaos and disorder。
Scheming and cunning artifice being commonplace；
Pernicious contrivances are invented …
Strange things happen。
Laws； rules； statutes and ordinances being many；
Thieves； bandits and dissidents increase and abound。
Thus the Sage says：
If I do nothing；
The people will spontaneously resolve contention。
If I love quietude；
The people will spontaneously become tranquil； honest and righteous。
If I cease interference；
The people will spontaneously prosper。
If I have no desires；
The people will spontaneously return to their original simplicity。
58
CYCLE OF CHANGES
When the government governs little； ruling with a light hand；
The people are happy and content。
When the government governs much； ruling with severity；
The people are tense and contentious。
A continuing cycle …
Misery and calamity； being unsustainable；
Are precursors of happiness to come。
Likewise happiness； A precursor of misery and calamity。
At any moment； one rarely takes to heart the certainty of this cycle；
For the realization of certainty is itself uncertain。
With good turning to evil and evil to good；
What is right； what is wrong ？
No wonder mankind has been long astray。
The Sage； Knowing what is best； is just … Not forcing others to conform。
Having integrity； does not injure others。
Being straightforward； is gently firm。
Emitting light without display；
Flows spontaneously toward his destination。
59
VITAL ENERGY
Establishing a reserve of vital energy； A precious Ch'i …
Heaven may be well served。
So doing …
Permits return to the essence of life；
In turn； nourishing and increasing an abundance of Te。
Now；
Overcoming all difficulty …
Gaining infinite capacity …
Being beyond all limitations …
Suitability for leading and serving nations is achieved。
Holding to the Tao； the government of nations may endure。
Having a firm foundation； Deeply rooted； abundantly strong；
The Tao of long life and durable vision is achieved。
60
GENTLENESS
Rule and govern All Things with gentleness；
In harmony with the Tao。
Thus does the power of evil spirits remain unfulfilled …
Neither does the good spirit of the Sage cause harm。
The Sage himself； being likewise protected；
Unity and perfect harmony prevail for all。
61
THE YIELDING NATION
A great nation； like a river delta；
Receives the riches of the land。
In being receptive … possessing the Yin；
Receiving the Yang unto it；
Overcomes all by its very peacefulness and quietude。
So …
A great nation； placing itself below a lesser；
Absorbs the lesser。
A lesser nation； submitting to a greater；
Conquers and wins adherence of the greater。
Thus …
To absorb； conquer and win adherence；
… One must yield。
Truly …
Those who triumph； do so by yielding。
A great nation prospers by absorbing；
A lesser by joining and participating。
For both to so benefit；
the greater nation needs be a yielding nation。
62
THE TREASURED TAO
The Tao； being the source and pivotal support of All Things；
Is a treasure to the virtuous； a refuge for the unworthy。
Fine words； being worthy of honor；
Noble deeds； deserving of respect；
Even the evil and unworthy are not forsaken by the Tao。
Thus now； as in ancient days；
Upon coronations and important appointments of state；
A better gift than worldly things；
Is the quiet offering of the Tao。
The Tao； so prized from antiquity to this day；
Rewarding those spontaneously seeking it；
Freeing the spirit of evil ones；
Is of All Things； most highly treasured。
63
THE DIFFICULT AND THE EASY
Practicing Wu…Wei；
… Act without acting。
… Work without doing。
… Taste without tasting。
Small becomes great； few becomes many；
The unkind is rewarded with kindness。
Let simplicity emerge from complication。
Dealing with trouble while still mere bother；
Resolution emerges from potential difficulty。
Truly； dealing effectively with great problems；
Requires attention before those problems achieve great magnitude。
Thus the Sage； by never dealing with problems of great magnitude；
Achieves greatness。
Glib promises can rarely be kept。
Ostensibly easy accomplishment rarely lacks difficulty of performance。
The Sage； ever mindful of difficulty；
Encounters no difficulty。
64
OVERT ACTION
Remaining still； it is easy to hold。
Unmanifest and unforetold； there are no limits for the making of plans。
Being brittle； it is easy to shatter。
Being small； it is easy to disperse。
Deal then with formative troubles before catastrophic events occur …
Create order before confusion can begin。
Truly …
The giant tree begins as a tiny sprout。
The high tower begins as a heap of earth。
The long journey begins as a single step from where one stands。
Overt acting causes harm and failure。
Overt grasping causes loss。
Thus the Sage；
Acting not； neither harms or fails
。 Grasping not； does not lose。
How often people fail as； using overt action；
They are just about to succeed。
Being as careful at the end as at the beginning；
Not interfering with the natural course of things；
Failure is averted。
Therefore The Sage：
… Desires to have what is unwanted。
… Values not objects which are difficult to obtain。
… Learns spontaneously without overt 〃Learning〃。
… Returns to the tried and true of old；
So that All Things are restored to their own true nature。
Acting spontaneously from inborn direction；
He avoids overt action。
65
ESTABLISHING HARMONY
The ancient Sages； knowing the natural Tao；
Refrained from schooling others in intellectual enlightenment。
Calculative thinking and strict intellectual processes were discouraged；
For people were argumentative and difficult t《 lead when so schooled。
Leading …
Through intellect alone …