A　government　that　follows　this　does　not　put　a　spotlight　on　itself；　but　the　peace　and　freedom　it　provides　allow　the　people　to　live　the　simple　and　honest　life。
  The　opposite　to　this　would　be　a　government　that　is　severe；　one　that　scrutinizes　the　people's　every　move。　Such　a　government　may　appear　to　be　very　capable　and　brutally　effective；　but　because　it　burdens　the　people　with　restrictions　and　intrudes　upon　their　privacy；　it　creates　an　environment　where　people　are　forced　to　become　ever　more　evasive；　resorting　to　trickery　to　hide　their　activities。
  Therefore；　it　is　hard　to　say　what　is　good　fortune　and　what　is　bad。　A　ruler　may　think　it's　a　good　thing　to　be　able　to　spy　on　people；　without　realizing　that　this　leads　to　ever　more　complications　and　alienation。　What　seems　like　a　good　idea　can　turn　into　a　disaster　and　vice　versa。　Who　can　predict　how　things　will　ultimately　turn　out？
  It　is　because　worldly　affairs　are　unpredictable；　and　can　suddenly　change　without　notice；　that　it　can　be　very　confusing　for　anyone　to　know　what　to　do。　This　is　why　sages　say　the　best　idea　to　follow　the　Tao　and　not　try　to　analyze　every　little　detail。　Logical；　rational　analyses　can；　and　often　does；　yield　the　wrong　conclusion；　but　the　true　Tao　will　never　lead　you　astray。
  Specifically；　the　Tao　would　guide　you　as　follows：
  1。　Be　forthright；　correct；　and　just　in　your　actions；　but　do　not　become　self…righteous　and　condemn　those　who　fail　to　live　up　to　your　standards　in　a　scathing　way。
  2。　Be　honest　in　your　dealings；　resist　the　temptation　of　briberies；　and　maintain　the　integrity　of　your　honor。　However；　do　not　seek　to　impose　the　same　discipline　upon　others　in　a　piercing　way。
  3。　Be　direct　and　straightforward　in　your　communication。　Say　what　you　mean　and　mean　what　you　say；　but　keep　in　mind　that　this　does　not　mean　being　unfeeling　and　cold…blooded。　Be　strict　with　yourself　but　forgiving　with　others。
  4。　Be　enlightened；　see　things　clearly　for　what　they　are；　not　what　you　wish　them　to　be。　You　can　have　a　light　that　illuminates　those　around　you；　without　turning　it　on　them　and　blind　them　with　its　glare。
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  In　governing　people　and　serving　Heaven
  There　is　nothing　like　conservation
  Only　with　conservation　is　it　called　submitting　early
  Submitting　early　is　called　emphasis　on　accumulating　virtues
  Accumulating　virtues　means　there　is　nothing　one　cannot　overcome
  When　there　is　nothing　that　one　cannot　overcome
  One's　limits　are　unknown
  The　limitations　being　unknown；　one　can　possess　sovereignty
  With　this　mother　principle　of　power；　one　can　be　everlasting
  This　is　called　deep　roots　and　firm　foundation
  The　Tao　of　longevity　and　lasting　vision
  When　it　comes　to　serving　the　natural　laws　of　Heaven；　managing　others　as　well　as　yourself；　there　is　nothing　like　the　principle　of　conservation　…　the　principle　of　valuing　and　using　efficiently　your　time；　energy；　mind　and　spirit。
  The　best　way　to　conserve　your　inner　resources　is　to　surrender　to　the　flow　of　the　Tao。　It　is　in　your　best　interest　to　give　up　rebelling　and　moving　against　the　flow　as　soon　as　possible。　The　sooner　you　stop　wasting　time　and　energy　in　useless　debates　and　intellectualizations；　the　sooner　you　can　start　accumulating　virtues　…　positive　things　and　life…affirming　values　…　in　your　life。
  When　you　accumulate　virtues　by　directing　your　time；　energy；　mind　and　spirit　toward　worthwhile　cultivation；　there　are　no　obstacles　you　cannot　overcome。　The　focus　that　is　possible　when　you　consciously　conserve　and　direct　your　inner　resources　makes　you　powerful　spiritually。　It　allows　you　to　become；　quite　literally；　an　unlimited　individual。
  Once　you　move　beyond　the　limits　that　hamper　most　people；　you　gain　power　over　yourself；　as　well　as　a　natural　authority　that　people　respond　to。　You　are　able　to　influence　them　effortlessly　because　their　respect　for　you　flows　naturally。　This　is　the　mother　principle　of　true　authority。　Unlike　the　transient　power　achieved　through　force　or　domination；　it　is　a　positive　force　that　lasts。
  With　this　lasting　power；　you'll　have　a　firm　foundation　upon　which　to　build　harmonious　relationships　with　others。　This　positive　force　takes　root　deeply　in　the　hearts　of　people　and　also　in　yourself。　It　is　the　Tao　of　longevity　…　a　vision　of　everlasting　harmony　and　leadership。
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  Ruling　a　large　country　is　like　cooking　a　small　fish
  Using　the　Tao　to　manage　the　world
  Its　demons　have　no　power
  Not　only　do　its　demons　have　no　power
  Its　gods　do　not　harm　people
  Not　only　do　its　gods　not　harm　people
  The　sages　also　do　not　harm　people
  They　both　do　no　harm　to　one　another
  So　virtue　merges　and　returns
  Governing　a　great　country　is　like　cooking　a　small　fish。　If　you　use　too　much　heat；　you　will　overcook　it；　if　you　keep　turning　the　fish　over　and　over；　it　will　fall　apart。　Similarly；　if　a　ruler　constantly　meddles　in　the　affairs　of　the　people　with　excessive　rules　and　regulations；　the　country　becomes　chaotic　and　everyone　suffers。
  When　the　Tao　has　arrived　and　is　present　in　the　world；　peace　and　harmony　prevail　so　that　the　demons　of　the　world　lose　the　power　to　exert　their　negative　influence。　Similarly；　when　the　Tao　is　present　in　your　heart；　your　inner　demons　have　no　power　over　you。
  It　is　not　that　the　demons　are　rendered　powerless　by　the　prevailing　peace　of　the　Tao；　but　that　their　powers　have　no　harmful　effect　on　people。　Similary；　a　true　sage　isn't　someone　who　harbors　absolutely　no　negativity　in　the　heart；　but　someone　who　sees　that　negativity　clearly　so　that　it　cannot　exert　a　harmful　influence　on　life。
  The　gods　of　the　world　also　keep　to　their　proper　places　and　do　not　disrupt　the　people's　lives。　When　we　apply　this　concept　to　practical；　everyday　cultivation；　it　means　the　wisdom　of　the　Tao　prevents　one　from　taking　foolish　actions　out　of　positive　intentions　…　actions　that；　although　well…intended；　still　end　up　making　things　more　complicated　and　more　difficult。
  Not　only　do　the　gods　refrain　from　harming　people　out　of　misguided　benevolence；　the　sages　also　refrain　from　meddling　in　people's　lives。　Acting　in　congruence　with　the　Tao；　the　sages　relax；　let　things　be；　and　simply　enjoy　the　process。
  This　gives　us　a　world　where　gods　and　demons　do　no　harm；　whether　to　one　another　or　anyone　else。　The　rulers　and　the　people　also　coexist　peacefully。　The　goodness　of　this　worldly　manifestation　lets　the　virtue　and　inherent　power　in　everyone　merge　together　and　return　to　the　Tao。
  Notes
  In　this　chapter　as　well　as　other　chapters　of　the　Tao　Te　Ching；　governing　a　country　serves　as　a　metaphor　for　running　one's　life。　Thus；　we　can　also　apply　〃cooking　a　small　fish〃　to　practical；　everyday　Tao　cultivation。
  Just　as　constantly　changing　rules　and　regulations　disrupt　people's　lives；　in　governing　your　own　life　you　also　need　to　be　careful　not　to　second…guess　yourself　too　much。　People　who　succeed　tend　to　make　their　decisions　quickly　and　change　their　minds　slowly；　if　at　all。　Conversely；　people　who　fail　in　life　are　the　ones　who　decide　slowly　but　change　their　minds　at　the　drop　of　a　hat。
  Once　you　cultivate　the　Tao　to　a　certain　point　and　get　in　touch　with　your　inner　self；　you　learn　to　trust　and　rely　on　the　power　of　your　intuition。　It　is　capable　of　leading　you　to　the　correct　decision　in　the　blink　of　an　eye。　By　contrast；　dwelling　on　too　much　information　has　a　way　of　leading　to　analysis　paralysis　rather　than　better　decisions。
  Next　time　you　have　a　hunch　or　a　gut　feeling；　go　with　it。　The　more　you　use　your　intuition；　the　more　powerful　and　accurate　it　will　become。
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  The　large　country　is　like　the　lowest　river
  The　converging　point　of　the　world
  The　receptive　female　of　the　world
  The　female　always　overcomes　the　male　with　serenity
  Using　serenity　as　the　lower　position
  Thus　if　the　large　country　is　lower　than　the　small　country
  Then　it　can　take　the　small　country
  If　the　small　country　is　lower　than　the　large　country
  Then　it　can　be　taken　by　the　large　country
  Thus　one　uses　the　lower　position　to　take
  The　other　uses　the　lower　position　to　be　taken
  The　large　country　only　wishes　to　gather　and　protect　people
  The　small　country　only　wishes　to　join　and　serve　people
  So　that　both　obtain　what　they　wish
  The　larger　one　should　assume　the　lower　position
  In　this　chapter　Lao　Tzu　points　out　that　the　virtue　of　humility　applies　not　only　to　individuals　and　personal　interactions；　but　also　to　diplomacy　and　international　relations。　In　fact；　the　microcosm　of　the　personal　reflects　the　macrocosm　of　the　national；　so　principles　that　work　in　one　level　operate　equally　well　in　the　other。
  Thus；　we　can　see　this　chapter　not　only　as　sage　advice　to　sovereign　states；　but　also　to　all　of　us。　In　the　context　of　everyday　living；　the　large　country　would　be　someone　who　has　more　power；　while　the　small　country　would　be　someone　with　less。　Because　everything　is　relative；　we　can　oftentimes　be　called　upon　to　play　either　role。　For　instance；　a　mid…level　manager　can　be　a　small　country　to　senior　executives；　and　at　the　same　time　be　a　large　country　to　the　rank　and　file。
  The　large　country　may　be　quite　powerful　and　has　a　lot　more　resources　than　small　countries；　but　if　it　does　not　understand　or　practice　the　virtue　of　h