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To do so would mean that you delight in the slaughter of men
You would never be able to lead the land properly
In happy events we honor the richness of the earth
In sad ones we turn our eyes to heaven
Since every soldier's mind； and every general's； is on the weather
It is clearly an occasion of sadness
Whenever multitudes are killed； the taoist grieves
Victory or defeat； it's all a funeral to him
32
The tao is ever nameless
Though it naturally seems small； no one would dare to try and captureit
If the leaders of the world could be one with it
All the creatures of the earth would bow down before them
And manna would spring from heaven and earth equally for all
Though no one insisted upon it
Failing that； of course； things must be named and put in some kind oforder
As soon as you start to establish order； however
You must know when it's time to stop； so nothing can go wrong
The great tao flows into the world
As water flows into streams； then rivers； then oceans
There comes a point when it's self…defeating to try and control it
33
Knowing others is knowledge； knowing yourself is wisdom
Conquering others is strength； conquering yourself is power
Wanting more is ambition； stopping at enough is wealth
Having it all makes a full life； leaving and being honored； that ishaving lived
34
The tao floats and drifts whichever way it likes
It does what it wants； without proclaiming itself
All things depend on it； but it is not their master
It has no desire； and thus is small
Yet since all things depend on it； and it does not rule them
It is magnificent
So the taoist attempts great works with no thought of being great
And thus accomplishes his ends
35
Rest in the tao and the whole world will come to you
They will suffer no harm； but find safety and peace
The curious will stop where they see music and games and food
But will soon lose their taste for it and wander on
The tao； though； has no flavor； no color； no sound
It is easily missed； yet once found
It is inexhaustible
36
What you want to shrink；？let expand
What you want to weaken；？let grow strong
What you want to avoid；？let approach
What you want to own；？give away
Honestly done； this is subtle and effective
It is how the weak overcomes the strong； how the few lead the many
In the end； a leader leads because people consent to it
And force will never be as effective as engaging simple cooperation
37
The tao is ever nameless
If leaders could be one with it
The world would transform itself
Wherever it is restless and troubled
It could be soothed by simple anonymous actions
Which； being anonymous；
Would cause no disgrace； no insult； no worries
And all of heaven and earth would find its own proper balance
38
True mastery always seems artless
The more it must be proclaimed； the less masterful it is
The virtuous act as the tao moves them； without forethought or reason
The good have an end in mind； but act from the heart
The righteous have an end and a means； and wave them like a flag
And when the righteous lose their faith in humanity
They roll up their sleeves and fight the good fight
And the thread of the way becomes tangled beyond recognition
Consider。。。
At best； we are like infants；？we do nothing and everyone smiles
Failing that； we try to sense what makes those around us happy
When that fails； we turn to abstractions … rules of truth； of justice；of order
But such abstractions are merely the flower of the way
Beautiful and bitter； full of hope and anger and violence
Rigid and fragile as crystal
What can this bring to the world but disorder？
Thoughtless ideology can only lead to cynical indifference
Flowers bloom and fade and wither away； no matter what
So the taoist lets them be； and reaches for the fruit instead
39
It is said that by attaining the one； long ago
Heaven rose and opened above us
As the earth took root and became solid
Gods walked the land in their glory
As the valleys poured forth all forms of life to honor them
And so leaders； attaining the one； would make their people prosperousand orderly
If； then； the way were ever truly lost
Heaven would close and fall； and the earth crumble
Gods would fade away and the valleys go barren
And leaders would fall amidst chaos and despair
What is noble must be rooted in the crude
What is high must be settled on the low
This is why leaders speak more often of the unfortunate than the fortunate
They would ground themselves among the lowly to reach high
Though they have cars； they would rather walk among the people
Though they could shine like jewels； they would rather seem solid asold stone
40
The tao is always returning； always yielding
The creatures of the world are born of those like them
And give birth to those like them in turn
But where does birth come from？
It is tao
41
One man； hearing of the way； will strive to follow it
Another will practice it sometimes； and not others
A third will hear of it； and laugh at how useless it sounds
And that's as it should be。
The clearest path is often easily missed
The easiest seems to go in the wrong direction
The smoothest looks rutted and rough
True strength is hidden； like seeds in a valley before the rains
True white shows every blotch and blemish
True virtue feels pathetic； thin； weak； insufficient
Such is the way of words；？they always fail in their ideals
Does an infinite square have corners or edges？
Could a cup be molded to hold everything； including itself？
Can a note sound that has all tones； and none？
Would everything seen at once look like anything at all？
The tao is eternal； too large and too small for names
Only it can begin things and bring them to their ends
42
The tao gave birth to the universe
The universe opened heaven and earth
Heaven and earth added man to their number
And man named the ten thousand things
All living things wrap themselves in the female and wrap the male
And by so cycling achieve harmony and life
So all despise the same things； where the cycle fails
Being orphaned； abandoned； or starving
All leaders； then； claim as their sacred trust
To defend those with no other options
And so it goes … where there is great loss； there is great attention
Where there are great gains； all is secrecy and shadowed warfare。
Consider well； then； the following phrase：
'Who uses force will be forced in turn'
You have to start somewhere
43
What flows cannot be held back by even the hardest wall
What has no form finds every crack and space； and fills it
This is doing without doing； teaching without a text
And the o