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Those who do not respect their teachers
And don't care for their resources
However clever they may be； they're utterly confused。
This is called the essence of mystery。
28
Be aware of what's masculine in you；
But preserve what is feminine in you；
And serve as a conduit for the world。
When you serve as a conduit for the world
Your true virtue will never be gone。
And you'll return again to the state of a newborn child。
Be aware of what is bright in you；
But preserve what is dark in you；
And serve as a guide for the world。
When you serve a guide for the world
Your true virtue will never falter；
And you'll return again to the state of boundlessness。
Be aware of what's praiseworthy in you；
But preserve what is base in you；
And serve as a valley for the world。
When you serve as a valley for the world
Your true virtue will grow ample enough；
And you'll return again to the simplicity of uncut wood。
Divided； the wood becomes a rod。
Used by a sage； the rod becomes a ruler's staff。
A great ruler keeps things whole； he does not divide。
29
Those who wish to conquer the world and act upon it
Do not achieve their goals … this is what I have found。
The world is a perfect vessel。
It cannot be acted upon。
Those who act on it destroy it。
Those who grab at it lose it。
Because with things：
Some lead and some follow；
Some blow hot and some blow cold；
Some grow in strength and some weaken；
Some expand and some collapse。
That is why the sage rejects the excessive；
Rejects the elaborate；
And rejects the superfluous。
30
When the follower of Tao assists the ruler；
He'll advise him
Not to conquer the world with the force of arms。
Such actions will certainly rebound。
Thistles spring up where armies camp。
Bad harvests follow in the wake of great wars。
Attain your goal； then stop
And do not abuse your force。
Attain your goal without boasting。
Attain your goal without bragging。
Attain your goal without pride。
Attain your goal without gain。
Attain your goal without violence。
What expands too much is bound to collapse。
This is not the way of Tao。
What goes against Tao soon declines。
31
Fine weapons are the portents of evil。
Creatures seem to detest them。
So the people of Tao keep away from them。
In times of peace the wise favor the left side。
In times of war they favor the right。
Weapons are the portents of evil。
Not the tools of the wise。
Compelled to use them；
They do so without zeal。
Winning a victory；
They do not relish in it。
Those who delight in victory
Delight in the slaughter of people。
Those who delight in slaughter
Cannot attain their goals。
On happy occasions the left is the place of honor。
On mournful occasions … the right。
The rites of war are like the funeral rites：
The generals stand on the left；
The commander…in…chief on the right。
When multitudes are killed the mourners should grieve。
A war victory should be celebrated like a funeral。
32
Tao is invariably nameless。
Simple like uncut wood； it seems insignificant
Yet no one in the world can command it。
If kings and lords could follow it
The myriad things would salute them；
Heaven and earth would unite
And soft dew would fall；
People would live in harmony
Without any need for laws。
Begin to cut； begin to rule
And names will appear。
When names abound dividing must stop。
The Tao of the world is like rivers flowing into the sea。
33
Those who know others are clever。
Those who know themselves are enlightened。
Those who conquer others have strength。
Those who conquer themselves are powerful。
Those who are contented have wealth。
Those who move ahead have purpose。
Those who don't run away from their posts endure。
Those who die but don't perish live on。
34
Great Tao flows like a flood。
It can go left and right。
The myriad things depend on it for life
And it does not forsake them。
It does its work but lays claim to no merit。
It shields and nourishes the myriad things
And does not act as their lord。
Always desireless it may seem insignificant；
Yet the myriad things return to it
And it does not act as their lord。
Thus it may seem to be great。
The sage； too； does not strive to be great
So he is able to achieve greatness。
35
Embrace the great idea
And the whole world will come to you。
It'll come to you and suffer no harm。
It'll find no peril but contentment and peace。
Travelers stop for food and for music
Yet it is said of Tao
That it is tasteless and bland。
When you look at it； there's not enough of it to see。
When you listen to it； there's not enough of it to hear。
Yet； when you use it； you can't use it up。
36
If you wish to make something small
You have to expand it。
If you wish to make something weak
You have to strengthen it。
If you wish to make something fall
You have to promote it。
If you wish to make something gone
You have to provide it。
This is called
Darkening what's bright。
What's soft and weak defeats what's hard and strong。
Fish should not be taken away from the ocean。
Sharp weapons of the state
Should not be shown to the people。
37
Tao invariably takes no action
Yet there is nothing left undone。
If kings and lords could follow it
The myriad things would transform by themselves。
And should they wish to take action once more
I'd quiet them
With nameless simplicity。
The nameless simplicity
Is like uncut wood：
It has no desires。
Without desires there is tranquility
And heaven and earth become stable by themselves。
38
Highest virtue does not follow virtue；
That is why it has virtue。
Lowest virtue does not stray from virtue；
That is why it lacks virtue。
Highest virtue takes no action
Yet it lacks reasons for doing so。
Lowest virtue takes action
Yet it has reasons for doing so。
Highest compassion takes action
Yet it lacks reasons for doing so。
Highest justice takes action
Yet it has reasons for doing so。
Highest ritual takes action
Yet if someone does not respond
It shows its fist to them and makes them comply。
When Tao is renounced there is virtue。
When virtue is renounced there is compassion。
When compassion is renounced there is justice。
When justice is renounced there is ritual。
Ritual is but a shadow of sincerity。
It's the beginning of confusion。
Foreknowledge is but a husk of Tao。
It's the beginning of ignorance。
Therefore those who are great
Dwell in the solid core and not in the shadow。
They dwell in the fruit； not in the husk。
It is the fruit they choose； the husk they spurn。
39
In days of old these became whole：
Having become whole； heaven became clear。
Having become whole； earth became stable。
Having become whole； spirits became vibrant。
Having become whole； valleys became full。
Having become whole； the myriad things became alive。
Having become whole； the nobles set the realm right。
This is what they achieved by becoming whole。
If heaven had not become clear
It would likely break open。
If earth had not become stable
It would likely collapse。
If spirits had not become vibrant
They would likely cease to exist。
If valleys had not become full
They would likely become exhausted。
If the myriad things had not become alive
They would likely die。
If the nobles had not become esteemed
They would likely fall。
Thus the nobles have the commoners as their root。
And the high rank has the low rank as its base。
And the high rank has the low rank as its base。
That is why 〃orphans；〃 〃lonely〃 and 〃worthless〃
Are the names kings and lords use for themselves。
Do they not have the commoners as their root？
Too much honor is no honor。
They don't wish to glitter like gemstones。
They prefer to rumble like rocks。
40
Returning is the action of Tao。
Yielding is the function of Tao。
The myriad things arise from what there is。
What there is arises from what there is not。
41
When the best students hear of Tao
They follow it with all their might。
When average students hear of Tao
Sometimes they heed it sometimes they don't。
When the worst students hear of Tao
They laugh at it heartily。
Were it not laughed at；
Tao would not be what it is。
Thus it is said：
A path that is bright seems to be dim。
A path going forward seems to go back。
A path that is smooth seems to be uneven。
The highest virtue seem