ife。　Everyone　has　an　impact　on　everyone　else；　and　it　is　up　to　an　individual　to　make　use　of　that　impact。　A　good　person　can　serve　as　a　teacher　and　be　a　great　example　for　us　to　emulate。　Not…so…good　individuals　is　just　as　useful；　because　we　can　observe　the　negative　consequences　of　their　negative　actions；　and　learn　from　that　as　what　not　to　do。
  In　this　way；　the　sages　see　everyone　as　valuable　teachers　or　resources。　They　do　not　praise　the　good　people　and　condemn　the　bad；　because　they　feel　genuine　love　and　affection　for　all　of　them。　Most　of　us　are　not　quite　that　way　…　we　quickly　develope　likes　and　dislikes；　preferences　and　aversions　in　dealing　with　others。　We　lack　the　ability　to　deal　everyone　with　the　same　degree　of　universal　love　that　sages　possess；　we　can　only　look　upon　this　essential　aspect　of　their　character　with　a　sense　of　wonder。
  Perhaps　one　day；　when　we　have　reached　a　certain　level　of　cultivation；　we　can　also　possess　the　essential　wonder　of　universal　love。　When　that　happens；　we　will　no　longer　see　people　we　despise　…　only　people　who　represent　certain　aspects　of　the　greater　oneness　that　is　also　us。
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  Know　the　masculine；　hold　to　the　feminine
  Be　the　watercourse　of　the　world
  Being　the　watercourse　of　the　world
  The　eternal　virtue　does　not　depart
  Return　to　the　state　of　the　infant
  Know　the　white；　hold　to　the　black
  Be　the　standard　of　the　world
  Being　the　standard　of　the　world
  The　eternal　virtue　does　not　deviate
  Return　to　the　state　of　the　boundless
  Know　the　honor；　hold　to　the　dishonor
  Be　the　valley　of　the　world
  Being　the　valley　of　the　world
  The　eternal　virtue　shall　be　sufficient
  Return　to　the　state　of　plain　wood
  Plain　wood　splits；　then　becomes　tools
  The　sages　utilize　them
  And　then　become　leaders
  Thus　the　greater　whole　is　undivided
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  Those　who　wish　to　take　the　world　and　control　it
  I　see　that　they　cannot　succeed
  The　world　is　a　sacred　instrument
  One　cannot　control　it
  The　one　who　controls　it　will　fail
  The　one　who　grasps　it　will　lose
  Because　all　things：
  Either　lead　or　follow
  Either　blow　hot　or　cold
  Either　have　strength　or　weakness
  Either　have　ownership　or　take　by　force
  Therefore　the　sage：
  Eliminates　extremes
  Eliminates　excess
  Eliminates　arrogance
  There　are　those　who　want　to　meddle　with　the　world；　or　the　environment。　They　want　to　control　it；　manipulate　it；　and　interfere　with　it。
  What　I　observe　is　that　they　cannot　possibly　achieve　what　they　desire。　The　world　is　a　sacred　thing；　beyond　the　insignificant　power　of　mere　mortals。
  None　of　us　can　control　the　world。　Those　who　try　will　fail；　and　those　who　hang　on　to　it　and　refuse　to　let　go　will　still　lose　their　grip。
  In　nature；　all　things　live　in　balance　with　one　another。　Some　of　them　lead　while　others　follow。　Some　blow　air　to　impart　warmth；　while　others　do　so　to　cool　things　down。　Some　are　strong；　while　others　are　weak。　Some　occupy　their　own　niche　in　the　environment；　while　others　survive　by　force　and　violence。
  Because　the　Tao　is　all　about　balance；　the　sage；　seeking　to　emulate　nature；　will　seek　the　same　balance　through　moderation。　He　or　she　will　elminate　from　his　or　her　life　anything　that　is　extreme　or　intemperate。　The　sage　will　also　avoid　any　excess　or　wasteful　extravagance。　And　lastly；　the　sage　will　let　go　of　thoughts　and　behaviors　that　are　arrogant　or　ego…driven。
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  The　one　who　uses　the　Tao　to　advise　the　ruler
  Does　not　dominate　the　world　with　soldiers
  Such　methods　tend　to　be　returned
  The　place　where　the　troops　camp
  Thistles　and　thorns　grow
  Following　the　great　army
  There　must　be　an　inauspicious　year
  A　good　commander　achieves　result；　then　stops
  And　does　not　dare　reaching　for　domination
  Achieves　result　but　does　not　brag
  Achieves　result　but　does　not　flaunt
  Achieves　result　but　is　not　arrogant
  Achieves　result　but　only　out　of　necessity
  Achieves　result　but　does　not　dominate
  Things　become　strong　and　then　get　old
  This　is　called　contrary　to　the　Tao
  That　which　is　contrary　to　the　Tao　soon　ends
  A　minister　who　follows　the　Tao；　and　applies　the　Tao　in　advising　the　sovereign　ruler；　will　never　attempt　to　dominate　the　world　with　military　power。　Those　who　are　in　tune　with　the　Tao　understand　that　violence　begets　more　violence。　What　goes　around　comes　around。　Those　who　resort　to　methods　of　domination　tend　to　have　such　methods　turn　back　against　them。　Acts　of　aggression　will　inevitably　cause　retaliation　and　counterattack。
  The　use　of　military　power　is；　by　its　very　nature；　an　extremely　negative　thing　to　do。　The　thistles　and　thorns　that　flourish　where　the　troops　strike　camp　is　symbolic　of　this　negativity。　When　a　great　army　passes　the　land；　an　ominous　year　of　famine　invariably　follows　in　its　wake。
  Military　leaders　who　really　understand　the　use　of　force　will　never　do　any　more　than　is　necessary　to　achieve　a　particular　result。　Such　leaders　will　not　reach　beyond　the　goal　for　more　self…glorifying　conquests。　They　accomplish　the　mission　without　bragging　or　flaunting。　Success　in　completing　the　objective　does　not　make　them　arrogant　or　over…confident。　This　is　because　they　use　force　only　when　they　have　no　other　choice。　They　know　that　military　power　is　the　last　resort；　and　not　a　tool　with　which　to　dominate　others。
  In　nature；　we　observe　that　when　things　grow　excessively　strong；　they　will　quickly　age　and　weaken。　We　say　that　this　is　not　in　accordance　with　the　unhurried　nature　of　Tao。　Things　that　do　not　follow　the　natural　progression　of　Tao　will　soon　come　to　an　end。　The　same　principle　applies　to　the　use　of　military　power　as　well。
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  A　strong　military；　a　tool　of　misfortune
  All　things　detest　it
  Therefore；　those　who　possess　the　Tao　avoid　it
  Honorable　gentlemen；　while　at　home；　value　the　left
  When　deploying　the　military；　value　the　right
  The　military　is　a　tool　of　misfortune
  Not　the　tool　of　honorable　gentlemen
  When　using　it　out　of　necessity
  Calm　detachment　should　be　above　all
  Victorious　but　without　glory
  Those　who　glorify
  Are　delighting　in　the　killing
  Those　who　delight　in　killing
  Cannot　achieve　their　ambitions　upon　the　world
  Auspicious　events　favor　the　left
  Inauspicious　events　favor　the　right
  The　lieutenant　general　is　positioned　to　the　left
  The　major　general　is　positioned　to　the　right
  We　say　that　they　are　treated　as　if　in　a　funeral
  The　multitude　who　have　been　killed
  Should　be　mourned　with　sadness
  Victory　in　war　should　be　treated　as　a　funeral
  Strong　military　power　isn't　something　to　be　glorified。　We　should　recognize　it　as　an　inauspicious　instrument；　the　use　of　which　inevitably　brings　misfortunes　and　calamities。
  Violence　and　aggression　are　inextricably　associated　with　the　military。　Thus；　it　is　universally　seen　as　extremely　negative。　Recognizing　this；　those　who　are　on　the　path　of　Tao　distance　themselves　from　it。
  During　peacetime；　honorable　individuals　value　the　left　in　day…to…day　living。　The　left　in　this　case　symbolizes　harmony。
  During　wartime；　honorable　individuals　value　the　right　in　the　utilization　of　the　military。　The　right　in　this　case　symbolizes　force。
  Because　the　military　is　an　ominous　instrument　of　destruction；　honorable　individuals　cannot　see　it　as　a　tool　that　they　identify　with。　It　is　the　last　resort；　to　be　used　only　when　absolutely　necessary；　when　there　is　no　other　choice。
  When　forced　to　use　the　military；　honorable　individuals　will　do　so　with　calmness　above　all；　and　detachment　from　emotional　turmoil。　They　do　not　fight　out　of　anger　or　hatred；　and　when　they　achieve　victory；　they　do　not　consider　it　glorious。　To　them；　there　can　be　no　possible　glory　in　taking　lives。
  Those　who　do　glorify　war　tend　to　be　the　ones　who　take　delight　in　killing。　Such　people　may　think　they　have　what　it　takes　to　conquer　the　world；　but　history　shows　they　invariably　fail　to　achieve　their　ambitions。　They　may　dominate　by　force　but　never　win　the　people's　hearts。
  Auspicious　events　favor　the　left　（symbolizing　harmony）　while　inauspicious　events　favor　the　right　（symbolizing　force）。　Thus；　the　lieutenant　general；　responsible　for　the　peacetime　training　of　the　military　organization；　is　situated　to　the　left　of　the　emperor。　The　major　general；　responsible　for　leading　attacks；　is　stationed　to　the　right。
  Because　of　their　involvement　with　the　military；　both　generals　are　regarded　by　Tao　cultivators　as　if　they　are　fixtures　in　a　funeral。
  Because　many　lives　are　inevitably　lost　in　battle；　we　understand　the　grief　of　those　who　mourn　the　dead；　no　matter　which　side　they　belong　to。
  The　military　parade　that　follows　victory　may　just　as　well　be　a　funeral　procession；　no　matter　which　side　happens　to　be　the　victor。
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  The　Tao；　eternally　nameless
  Its　simplicity；　although　imperceptible
  Cannot　be　treated　by　the　world　as　subservient
  If　a　sovereign　can　hold　on　to　it
  All　will　follow　by　themselves
  The　heaven　and　earth；　together　harmoniously
  Will　rain　sweet　dew
  People　won't　need　to　force　it；　it　will　adjust　by　itself
  In　the　beginning　of　creation；　there　were　names
  Names　came　to　ex