49
  The　sage　has　no　set　mind。　She　adopts　the　concerns　of　others　as　her　own。
  She　is　good　to　the　good。　She　is　also　good　to　the　bad。　This　is　real　goodness。
  She　trusts　the　trustworthy。　She　also　trusts　the　untrustworthy。　This　is　real　trust。
  The　sage　takes　the　minds　of　the　worldly　and　spins　them　around。　People　drop　their　ideas　and　agendas；　and　she　guides　them　like　beloved　children。
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  Between　their　births　and　their　deaths；
  three　out　of　ten　are　attached　to　life；　three　out　of　ten　are　attached　to　death；　three　out　of　ten　are　just　idly　passing　through。　Only　one　knows　how　to　die　and　stay　dead　and　still　go　on　living。
  That　one　hasn't　any　ambitions；　hasn't　any　ideas；　makes　no　plans。　From　this　mysterious　place　of　not…knowing　and　non…doing　he　gives　birth　to　whatever　is　needed　in　the　moment。　Because　he　is　constantly　filling　his　being　with　nonbeing；　he　can　travel　the　wilds　without　worrying　about　tigers　or　wild　buffalo；　or　he　can　cross　a　battlefield　without　armour　or　weapon。
  No　tiger　can　claw　him。　No　buffalo　can　gore　him。　No　weapon　can　pierce　him。　Why　is　this　so？　Because　he　has　died；　there　isn't　any　more　room　for　death　in　him。
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  Tao　gives　life　to　all　beings。　Nature　nourishes　them。　Fellow　creatures　shape　them。　Circumstances　complete　them。　Everything　in　existence　respects　Tao　and　honours　nature　…　not　by　decree；　but　spontaneously。　Tao　gives　life　to　all　beings。　Nature　watches　over　them；　develops　them；　shelters　them；　nurses　them；　grows　them；　ripens　them；　completes　them；　buries　them；　and　returns　them。
  Giving　birth；　nourishing　life；　shaping　things　without　possessing　them；　serving　without　expectation　of　reward；　leading　without　dominating：　These　are　the　profound　virtues　of　nature；　and　of　nature's　best　beings。
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  The　origin　and　mother　of　everything　in　the　world　is　Tao。
  Know　the　mother　and　you　can　know　the　children。　Having　known　the　children；　return　to　their　source　and　hold　on　to　her。　Abiding　by　the　mother；　you　are　free　from　danger；　even　when　your　body　dies。
  Don't　live　for　your　senses。　Close　your　mouth；　close　all　the　body's　openings；　and　reside　in　the　original　unity。　In　this　way　you　can　pass　your　life　in　peace　and　contentment。
  Open　your　mouth；　increase　your　activities；　start　making　distinctions　between　things；　and　you'll　toil　forever　without　hope。
  See　the　subtle　and　be　illuminated。　Abide　in　gentleness　and　be　strong。
  Use　your　light；　and　return　to　insight。　Don't　expose　yourself　to　trouble。　This　is　following　Tao。
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  Because　I　have　a　little　wisdom；　I　choose　to　walk　the　great　path　of　Tao　and　fear　nothing　except　to　stray　from　it。
  The　great　way　is　very　smooth　and　easy；　but　some　people　are　fond　of　getting　sidetracked。
  When　a　ruler's　palace　is　full　of　treasure；　the　people's　fields　are　weedy　and　their　granaries　are　empty。
  If　the　ruler　wears　fancy　clothes　and　his　house　is　full　of　weapons；　if　his　table　is　laden　with　extravagant　food　and　drink　and　everywhere　one　looks　he　has　more　wealth　than　he　can　use；　the　ruler　is　a　robber　and　thief。　This　is　not　in　keeping　with　Tao。
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  Plant　yourself　firmly　in　the　Tao　and　you　won't　ever　be　uprooted。　Embrace　Tao　firmly　and　you　won't　ever　be　separated　from　it。　Your　children　will　thrive；　and　your　children's　children。
  Cultivate　goodness　in　your　self；　and　goodness　will　be　genuine。　Cultivate　it　in　your　family；　and　goodness　will　flourish。　Cultivate　it　in　your　community；　and　goodness　will　grow　and　multiply。　Cultivate　it　in　your　country；　and　goodness　will　be　abundant。　Cultivate　it　in　the　world；　and　goodness　will　be　everywhere。
  How　do　I　know　the　world　works　like　this？　By　watching。
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  She　who　is　filled　with　goodness　is　like　a　newborn　child：　wasps　and　snakes　will　not　bite　it；　fierce　beasts　will　not　attack　it；　birds　of　prey　will　not　pounce　on　it。　Its　bones　are　soft　and　its　muscles　weak；　but　its　grip　is　firm。
  It　hasn't　yet　known　the　union　of　male　and　female；　yet　its　organ　stirs　with　vitality。
  It　can　howl　all　day　without　becoming　hoarse；　so　perfect　is　its　harmony。　To　know　harmony　is　to　know　the　eternal。　To　know　the　eternal　is　to　be　illumined。
  Prolonging　life　is　not　harmonious。/　Coercing　the　breath　is　unnatural。
  Things　which　are　overdeveloped　must　decay。　All　this　is　contrary　to　Tao；　and　whatever　is　contrary　to　Tao　soon　ceases　to　be。
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  Those　who　know　don't　talk。　Those　who　talk　don't　know。
  Close　your　mouth。　Block　the　door。　Quiet　your　senses。　Blunt　the　sharpness。　Untie　the　tangles。　Soften　the　brightness。　Be　one　with　the　dust；　and　enter　the　primal　oneness。
  One　who　has　merged　with　Tao　in　this　way　can't　be　courted；　can't　be　bought；　can't　be　harmed；　can't　be　honoured；　can't　be　humiliated。　He　is　the　treasure　of　the　world。
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  Govern　a　nation　by　following　nature。　Fight　a　war　with　unexpected　moves。　Win　the　world　by　letting　go。　How　do　I　know　this？　From　seeing　these：
  The　more　prohibitions　there　are；　the　poorer　people　become。　The　more　weapons　there　are；　the　darker　things　become。
  The　more　laws　there　are；　the　greater　the　number　of　scoundrels。
  Therefore　the　sage　says：　I　take　no　action；　and　people　transform　themselves。　I　love　tranquility；　and　people　naturally　do　what　is　right。
  I　don't　interfere；　and　people　prosper　on　their　own。　I　have　no　desires；　and　people　return　to　simplicity。
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  When　the　government　is　dull　and　sleepy；　people　are　wholesome　and　good。　When　the　government　is　sharp　and　exacting；　people　are　cunning　and　mean。
  Good　rests　upon　bad。　Bad　hides　within　good。
  Who　knows　where　the　turning　point　is？　Whether　government　or　person；　if　you　aren't　tranquil　and　honest；　the　normal　flips　to　the　abnormal；　the　auspicious　reverts　to　the　bizarre；　and　your　bewilderment　lasts　for　a　long　time。
  Therefore　the　sage　does　what　is　right　without　acting　righteous；　points　without　piercing；　straightens　without　straining；　enlightens　without　dazzling。
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  In　governing　people　and　serving　heaven；　there　is　nothing　better　than　moderation。
  To　be　moderate　is　to　follow　Tao　without　straying。　To　follow　Tao　without　straying　is　to　become　filled　with　good　energy。　To　be　filled　with　good　energy　is　to　overcome　all　things。　To　overcome　all　things　is　to　know　that　all　things　are　possible。
  She　who　knows　that　all　things　are　possible　is　fit　to　govern　people。
  Because　she　is　one　with　the　mother；　her　roots　go　deep；　her　foundation　stands　firm；　her　life　lasts　long；　her　vision　endures。
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  Governing　a　large　country　is　like　cooking　a　small　fish。
  If　it's　done　in　accordance　with　Tao；　nothing　bad　will　happen。　Guide　the　world　with　Tao；　and　evil　won't　be　a　problem。
  Not　that　it　won't　be　around；　but　it　won't　find　an　opening；　it　can't　harm　anyone。
  The　sage　doesn't　harm　anyone；　either。　When　there's　no　harm　on　this　side；　no　harm　on　that；　goodness　flows　back　and　forth　like　water。
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  A　great　country　is　like　a　low…lying　land　into　which　many　streams　flow。　It　draws　powerful　energies　to　it　as　a　receptive　woman　draws　an　eager　man。　The　feminine　can　always　conquer　the　masculine　by　yielding　and　taking　the　lower　position。　In　this　way　she　becomes　as　low…lying　land：　in　time；　everything　comes　her　way。
  Therefore　a　great　country　can　win　over　a　small　country　by　practicing　humility。　A　small　country　can　also　win　over　a　great　country　by　practicing　humility。
  One　wins　by　willingly　taking　the　lower　position。　The　other　wins　by　willingly　acknowledging　its　lower　position。
  The　great　country　wants　to　embrace　and　nourish　more　people。　The　small　country　wants　to　ably　serve　its　benefactor。
  Both　accomplish　their　ends　by　yielding。
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  Tao　is　the　hidden　secret　source　of　all　life。　Good　men　recognize　that　Tao　provides　for　them　and　therefore　they　esteem　it。　Bad　men　don't　recognize　this；　but　the　Tao　doesn't　stop　providing　for　them。
  Beautiful　words　win　some　men　honours；　good　deeds　buy　others　acclaim。　But　the　Tao　values　everyone；　not　just　those　who　excel。　What's　the　sense　in　discarding　anyone？
  Thus；　on　the　day　a　new　king　is　crowned　or　powerful　ministers　installed；　while　others　rush　forward　with　gifts　and　praises；　just　be　still　and　offer　Tao。
  Why　have　sages　prized　Tao　for　so　long？　Because　with　Tao；　he　who　seeks　finds；　and　he　who　has　flaws　is　forgiven。　This　is　why　it　is　the　treasure　of　the　world。
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  Act　by　not　acting；　accomplish　by　not　straining；　understand　by　not　knowing。
  Regard　the　humble　as　exalted　and　the　exalted　as　humble。　Remedy　injury　with　tranquil　repair。
  Meet　the　difficult　while　it　is　still　easy；　cross　the　universe　one　step　at　a　time。
  Because　the　sage　doesn't　try　anything　too　big；　she's　able　to　accomplish　big　things。
  Those　who　commit　lightly　seldom　come　through。　Those　who　think　everything　is　easy　will　finmd　everything　hard。
  The　sage　understands　that　everything　is　difficult；　and　thus　in　the　end　has　no　difficulties。
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  What　has　equilibrium　is　easy　to　maintain。　What　hasn't　begun　is　easy　to　plan。　What　is　fragile　is　easy　to　shatter。　What　is　small　is　easy　to　scatter。
  Deal　with　things　before　they　arise。　Cultivate　order　before　confusion　sets　in。
  The　tallest　tree　springs　from　a　tiny　shoot。　The　tallest　tower　is　built　fro