Therefore　the　world　values　you。
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  ***　Use　fairness　in　governing　the　state。
  Use　surprise　tactics　in　war。
  Be　unconcerned　and　you　will　have　the　world。
  How　do　I　know　it　is　like　this？
  Because：
  The　more　regulations　there　are；
  The　poorer　people　become。
  The　more　people　own　lethal　weapons；
  The　more　darkened　are　the　country　and　clans。
  The　more　clever　the　people　are；
  The　more　extraordinary　actions　they　take。
  The　more　picky　the　laws　are；
  The　more　thieves　and　gangsters　there　are。
  Therefore　the　sages　say：
  〃I　do　not　force　my　way　and　the　people　transform　themselves。
  I　enjoy　my　serenity　and　the　people　correct　themselves。
  I　do　not　interfere　and　the　people　enrich　themselves。
  I　have　no　desires
  And　the　people　find　their　original　mind。
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  When　the　government　is　laid　back
  The　people　are　relaxed。
  When　the　government　is　nitpicking
  The　people　have　anxiety。
  Misfortune　depends　upon　fortune。
  Fortune　conceals　misfortune。
  What　has　a　definite　delimitation？
  Or　abnormality？
  The　normal　reverts　to　strangeness。
  Goodness　reverts　to　perversion。
  People　certainly　have　been　confused　for　a　long　time。
  Therefore　the　sage　squares　things　without　cutting。
  Edges　without　separating。
  Straightens　without　lining　up。
  Shines　but　does　not　glare。
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  In　governing　the　country　and　serving　Heaven
  There　is　nothing　like　frugality。
  Only　by　being　frugal　can　you　recover　quickly。
  When　you　recover　quickly　you　accumulate　virtue。
  Having　accumulated　virtue；
  There　is　nothing　you　can't　overcome。
  When　there　is　nothing　you　can't　overcome
  Who　knows　the　limits　of　your　capabilities？
  These　limits　being　unfathomable
  You　can　possess　the　country。
  The　Mother　who　possesses　the　country　can　be　long…living。
  This　is　called　〃planting　the　roots　deeply　and　firmly。〃
  The　way　to　long　life　and　eternal　vision。
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  Ruling　a　large　country　is　like　cooking　a　small　fish。
  When　you　govern　people　with　the　Tao
  Demons　will　have　no　power。
  Not　that　they　don't　have　power；
  But　their　power　will　not　harm　people。
  Since　the　sage　doesn't　harm　people；
  The　two　will　not　harm　each　other。
  Here　their　power　merges　and　returns。
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  The　great　state　should　be　like　a　river　basin。
  The　mixing　place　of　the　world；
  The　feminine　of　the　world。
  The　feminine　always　overcomes　the　masculine　by　softness
  Because　softness　is　lesser。
  Therefore　if　a　large　state　serves　a　small　state
  It　will　gain　the　small　state。
  If　a　small　state　serves　a　large　state
  It　will　gain　the　large　state。
  Therefore　some　serve　in　order　to　gain
  And　some　gain　despite　their　servitude。
  The　large　state　wants　nothing　more
  Than　to　unite　and　feed　its　people。
  The　small　state　wants　nothing　more
  Than　to　enter　into　the　service　of　the　right　person。
  Thus　both　get　what　they　want。
  Greatness　lies　in　placing　oneself　below。
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  The　Tao　is　hidden　deeply　in　all　things。
  It　is　the　treasure　of　the　good
  And　the　refuge　of　the　not…so…good。
  With　skillful　words　you　can　be　successful。
  With　honorable　actions　you　can　be　included。
  People　may　not　be　so　good；　but　how　can　you　deny　them？
  Therefore；　even　though　there　are　great　jewels　brought　in　by　teams　ofhorses　at　the　coronation　of　the　emperor　and　the　installation　of　the　threeprinces；
  This　is　not　as　good　as　staying　where　you　are
  And　advancing　in　this　Tao。
  Why　did　the　ancients　so　value　the　Tao？
  You　can't　say　that　it　was　for　seeking　gain
  Or　to　have　punishments　to　deter　crime。
  Therefore　it　is　the　most　prized　in　the　world。
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  Do　without　〃doing。〃
  Get　involved　without　manipulating。
  Taste　without　tasting。
  Make　the　great　small；
  The　many；　few。
  Respond　to　anger　with　virtue。
  Deal　with　difficulties　while　they　are　still　easy。
  Handle　the　great　while　it　is　still　small。
  The　difficult　problems　in　life
  Always　start　off　being　simple。
  Great　affairs　always　start　off　being　small。
  Therefore　the　sage　never　deals　with　the　great
  And　is　able　to　actualize　his　greatness。
  Now　light　words　generate　little　belief；
  Much　ease　turns　into　much　difficulty。
  Therefore　the　sage　treats　things　as　though　they　were　difficult；
  And　hence；　never　has　difficulty。
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  That　which　is　at　rest　is　easy　to　grasp。
  That　which　has　not　yet　come　about　is　easy　to　plan　for。
  That　which　is　fragile　is　easily　broken。
  That　which　is　minute　is　easily　scattered。
  Handle　things　before　they　arise。
  Manage　affairs　before　they　are　in　a　mess。
  A　thick　tree　grows　from　a　tiny　seed。
  A　tall　building　arises　from　a　mound　of　earth。
  A　journey　of　a　thousand　miles　starts　with　one　step。
  Contriving；　you　are　defeated；
  Grasping；　you　lose。
  The　sage　doesn't　contrive；　so　she　isn't　beaten。
  Not　grasping；　she　doesn't　lose。
  When　people　are　carrying　out　their　projects
  They　usually　blow　it　at　the　end。
  If　you　are　as　careful　at　the　end
  As　you　were　at　the　beginning；
  You　won't　be　disappointed。
  Therefore　the　sage　desires　non…desire；
  Does　not　value　rare　goods；
  Studies　the　unlearnable
  So　that　she　can　correct　the　mistakes　of　average　people
  And　aid　all　things　in　manifesting　their　true　nature
  Without　presuming　to　take　the　initiative。
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  The　ancients　who　were　skillful　at　the　Tao
  Did　not　illuminate　the　people
  But　rather　kept　them　simple。
  When　the　people　are　difficult　to　rule
  It　is　because　of　their　cleverness。
  Therefore
  If　you　use　cleverness　to　rule　the　state
  You　are　a　robber　of　the　state。
  If　you　don't　use　cleverness　to　rule　the　state
  You　are　a　blessing　to　the　state。
  If　you　understand　these　two　points；　you　know　the　proper　norm　for　governingTo　be　continuously　understanding　the　proper　norm　is　called
  Mysterious　Virtue。
  How　deep　and　far…reaching　Mysterious　Virtue　is！
  It　makes　all　return
  Until　they　reach　the　Great　Norm。
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  The　reason　the　river　and　sea　can　be　regarded　as
  The　rulers　of　all　the　valley　streams
  Is　because　of　their　being　below　them。
  Therefore　they　can　be　their　rulers。
  So　if　you　want　to　be　over　people
  You　must　speak　humbly　to　them。
  If　you　want　to　lead　them
  You　must　place　yourself　behind　them。
  Thus　the　sage　is　positioned　above
  And　the　people　do　not　feel　oppressed。
  He　is　in　front　and　they　feel　nothing　wrong。
  Therefore　they　like　to　push　him　front　and　never　resent　him。
  Since　he　does　not　contend
  No　one　can　contend　with　him。
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  The　reason　everybody　calls　my　Tao　great
  Is　because　there　is　nothing　quite　like　it。
  It　is　exactly　because　it　is　great
  That　there　is　nothing　quite　like　it。
  If　there　were　something　that　were　consistently　like　it
  How　could　it　be　small？
  I　have　three　treasures　which　I　hold　and　cherish。
  The　first　is　compassion；
  The　second　is　frugality；
  The　third　is　not　daring　to　put　myself　ahead　of　everybody。
  Having　compassion；　I　can　be　brave。
  Having　frugality；　I　can　be　generous。
  Not　daring　to　put　myself　ahead　of　everybody
  I　can　take　the　time　to　perfect　my　abilities。
  Now　if　I　am　brave　without　compassion
  Generous　without　frugality；　or
  Go　to　the　fore　without　putting　my　own　concerns　last；
  I　might　as　well　be　dead。
  If　you　wage　war　with　compassion　you　will　win。
  If　you　protect　yourself　with　compassion　you　will　be　impervious。
  Heaven　will　take　care　of　you；
  Protecting　you　with　compassion。
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  The　best　warrior　is　never　aggressive。
  The　best　fighter　is　never　angry。
  The　best　tactician　does　not　engage　the　enemy。
  The　best　utilizer　of　people's　talents　places　himself　below　them。
  This　is　called　the　virtue　of　non…contention。
  It　is　called　the　ability　to　engage　people's　talents。
  It　is　called　the　ultimate　in　merging　with　Heaven。
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  Strategists　have　a　saying：
  〃I　prefer　to　be　able　to　move；　rather　than　be　in　a　fixed　position
  Prefer　to　retreat　a　foot　rather　than　advancing　an　inch。〃
  This　is　called　progress　without　advancing；
  Preparing　without　showing　off；
  Smashing　where　there　is　no　defense；
  Taking　him　without　a　fight。
  There　is　no　greater　danger　than　under…estimating　your　opponent。
  If　I　under…estimate　my　opponent
  I　will　lose　that　which　is　most　dear。
  Therefore
  When　opponents　clash
  The　one　who　is　sorry　about　it　will　be　the　winner。
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  My　words　are　easy　to　understand
  And　easy　to　practice。
  Yet　nobody　understands　them　or　practices　them。
  My　words　have　an　origin；
  My　actions　have　a　principle。
  It　is　only　because　of　your　not　understanding　this
  That　you　do　not　understand　me。
  Since　there　are　few　who　understand　me
  I　am　valued。
  Therefore　the　sage　wears　coarse　clothes。
  Yet　hides　a　jewel　in　his　bosom。
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  There　is　nothi