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always respected Tao？
Because when you get right with Tao；
you can always find
swhat you need to get by；
and trouble can never find you。
63。
Keep still。
Don't work so hard。
Learn to appreciate everyday life。
Pay attention to details。
Start small and work your way up。
When people give you trouble；
let it slide。
Break everything down to its essentials。
Get the job done
before it becomes a chore。
With the right preparation；
difficult tasks
can be completed with ease；
every major project
consists of simple steps。
The Masters don't take on
more than they can handle；
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which is why
they can do just about anything。
Don't promise
more than you can deliver；
and don't underestimate the task：
You'll only make things harder for yourself。
The Masters are always aware
of the difficulties involved；
which is why
they never have to deal with them。
64。
It's easy to maintain balance。
Trouble can be nipped in the bud。
Fragile things break easily；
and small things are easy to lose。
Deal with the situation
before it becomes a problem。
Keep everything straight
so it can't get messed up。
Every tree was once a seed。
Every skyscraper started out
with a shovelful of dirt。
Andstop me if you've heard this one before
a journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step。
When you try too hard；
you defeat your own purpose。
Cling to stuff；
and you will suffer loss。
The Masters make no effort；
so they never fail。
They aren't attached to things；
so they never feel loss。
People often screw up
when the job's nearly done。
Pay as much attention
to the finishing touches
as you do to the initial steps；
and you won't screw up like that。
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The Masters try to be free from desire。
They don't collect precious things。
They don't cling to any beliefs。
They pay attention
to what everybody else ignores。
They help the world get right with Tao；
but don't try to change a thing。
65。
In ancient times；
leaders who were right with Tao
didn't teach everybody
how to become enlightened。
They kept people's lives simple。
People who know too much
can't be taught anything。
Leaders who try to be clever
always screw things up。
Leaders who keep things simple
always make things right。
If you get that；
you'll understand
the mysterious power of Tao。
That kind of power is so deep；
so extensive；
it penetrates into every level of existence。
66。
An ocean is greater
than the hundred rivers
that flow into it；
and all it does is wait
to receive what they bring。
If you want to teach people；
don't talk down to them。
If you want to lead them；
find out where they want to go。
People love leaders
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who make them feel safe
without smothering them。
They'll always support
a leader like that；
and because he doesn't try
to compete with anybody；
nobody is able to compete with him。
67。
Everywhere I go； people tell me；
〃Tao is so powerful； so immense；
it's inconceivable！〃
But it's only powerful
because it's inconceivable。
If we could wrap our minds around it；
Tao would be just another thing。
The three most important qualities in life
are compassion；
or showing kindness and mercy to others；
moderation；
or knowing what a thing is worth；
and modesty；
or knowing your place in the world。
Courage stems from showing
kindness and mercy to others。
Generosity starts with knowing
what a thing is worth。
True leadership begins with knowing
your place in the world。
But these days；
I see everyone trying to act courageous
without any trace of compassion。
They try to be generous
but they don't practice moderation
in their own lives。
They act like leaders；
but they have no sense of modesty。
No good can come of this。
If you want to get ahead；
show people compassion。
When other people attack you；
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defend yourself with compassion。
It's the most powerful force in the universe。
68。
A true warrior never uses force
with an attitude of pride or anger。
A true victor
does not pursue vengeance。
A true leader shows humility。
This is the power of modesty。
It's the best way to deal with people。
It's always been an excellent way
to get right with Tao。
69。
There's an old military saying：
〃I'd rather face an attack
than have to make one。
I'd rather retreat a foot
than try to advance an inch。〃
That's the secret to moving forward
while staying put；
preparing for battle
without revealing your strength。
When you defend yourself
without any show of force；
you give your opponent
nothing to fight。
Attacking an enemy
you've underestimated
is a costly mistake。
When two forces oppose each other；
the winner is the one most reluctant to fight。
70。
Lao Tzu's advice
was easy to understand
and easy to follow。
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But nobody understood him
or did what he suggested。
His words
stemmed from ancient wisdom；
and his actions were highly disciplined。
People didn't get that；
which is why
they didn't understand him。
And the less they understood him；
the more meaningful his advice became。
That's why the Masters live simply；
hiding their wisdom deep within themselves。
71。
If you know
what you don't know；
you're doing great。
If you don't know
what you don't know；
you're sick。
The only way
to get rid of that sickness
is to be sick of it。
The Masters aren't sick；
because they got sick of being sick。
72。
When you show no fear at all；
the universe gives you something
to really be afraid of。
Don't try to fence people in
or grind them down。
Just let them be；
and they'll always be on your side。
The Masters know themselves；
but they don't reveal themselves。
They love themselves；
but they know
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what their lives are worth。
They let go of all that
to concentrate on this。
73。
Those who dare to be bold die。
Those who dare to be careful survive。
Sowhat do you want to do？
Why is life like that； you ask？
I don't know。
This is how Tao works：
It doesn't push itself；
and it always succeeds。
It acts silently； and it always reacts。
It can't be summoned；
it comes whenever it's ready。
It can't be rushed； it's always on time。
〃Heaven casts a wide net；
with big holes；〃
Lao Tzu used to say；
〃but nothing ever gets by it。〃
74。
If people's lives suck；
and they look forward to death；
what good does it do
to threaten to kill them？
If people are afraid to die；
and the wicked are condemned to death；
then who would dare to commit evil？
But that doesn't mean you or I
can just take life and death
into our own hands。
That'd be like walking up
to an industrial buzzsaw
and trying to use it
without any training。
We'd only end up hurting ourselves。
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75。
People starve
because the government
taxes them to death。
People rebel
because the government
tries to run their lives。
People act like life is meaningless
because the government
takes everything they have。
People who know how to enjoy life
are wiser than people who value their lives。
76。
A baby's body is soft and gentle。
A corpse is hard and stiff。
Plants and trees are tender
and full of sap。
Dead leaves are brittle and dry。
If you are rigid and unyielding；
you might as well be dead。
If you are soft and flexible；
you are truly alive。
Soldiers trained to fight to the death will die。
A tree that cannot bend with the wind
will snap。
Here's a useful saying：
The harder they come；
the harder they fall。
Here's another：
The meek shall inherit the earth。
77。
Lao Tzu said using Tao
was like pulling on a bowstring：
The top bends down；
the bottom bends up；
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and all the energy
is focused in the middle。
Tao takes energy from where it is；
and sends it where it needs to be。
But most people take from those
who don't have enough；
so those who have too much already
can have more。
So who in this world
is truly generous to others？
People who are in touch with Tao。
They do their work
without taking credit。
They get the job done and move on。
They aren't interested in showing off。
78。
Nothing is softer
or more yielding
than water。
Yet； given time；
it can erode even the hardest stone。
That's how the weak