d　seek　precedence。
  The　end　of　it　all　is　death。
  Compassion　overcomes　all　opposition　and　is　sure　in　its　defence。
  Therefore；　when　the　Universe　would　preserve　people　it　enfolds　them　with　Compassion。
  〃Increasing　the　Evidence　of　Tao。〃
  If　I　should　attain　wisdom　to　follow　Supreme　Tao；　I　should　fear　nothing　save　to　be　unworthy　of　it。
  Supreme　Tao　is　very　straight；　but　how　much　people　love　the　by…paths。
  The　palace　may　be　all…splendid；　but　the　land　may　be　uncultured　and　the　store…house　empty　and　bare。
  We　may　adorn　ourselves　with　fair　raiment　and　gird　ourselves　with　swords；　we　may　fill　ourselves　with　food　and　drink；　and　display　our　wealth　of　useless　things。
  This　is　the　glorification　of　possession；　assuredly　it　is　not　of　Tao。
  〃The　Possible。〃
  By　blending　heart　and　mind　in　united　singleness　of　purpose；　it　is　possible　to　reach　the　Indivisible。By　restraining　the　passions　and　letting　gentleness　have　sway；　it　is　possible　to　become　as　a　little　child。By　purging　the　mind　of　fantasy；　it　is　possible　attain　to　clear　vision。
  By　loving　people　with　inner　service；　it　is　possible　to　remain　unknown。
  By　going　in　and　out　of　the　Gates　of　the　Universe；　it　is　possible　to　become　as　the　Mother…bird。By　pure　transparency　in　all　directions　it　is　possible　to　know　and　yet　remain　unknown。
  To　quicken　and　to　give　birth；
  To　give　birth　and　to　nourish；
  To　nourish　but　not　to　own；
  To　actuate　but　not　to　rule；
  To　rule　but　not　to　excel；
  This　is　called　Profound　Teh。
  〃Overflowing　Teh。〃
  Esteem　your　highest　attainment　as　incomplete；　its　utility　remains　unimpaired。
  Esteem　your　greatest　fullness　as　emptiness；　it　will　never　be　depleted。
  Count　your　extreme　uprightness　as　that　which　is　crooked。
  Know　your　highest　wisdom　as　foolishness。
  Deem　your　finest　eloquence　as　stammering　words。
  And　you　will　find　that；　even　as　movement　overcomes　cold；　as　stillness　overcomes　heat；　so　they　who　have　purity　and　serenity　become　a　model　of　the　world。
  〃The　Mysterious　Seal。〃
  Those　who　possess　Teh　in　its　fullness　are　like　little　children。
  Poisonous　insects　will　not　sting　them；　wild　beasts　will　not　seize　them；　birds　of　prey　will　not　strike　them；Though　their　bones　are　soft　and　their　muscles　weak；　their　grasp　is　firm　and　sure。
  Though　Unconscious　of　their　creative　power　they　are　fully　virile　and　reach　maturity。
  Though　all　day　they　sing　and　speak　their　voice　is　smooth；　and　their　perfect　harmony　shows。
  Knowledge　of　harmony　is　eternal。
  Knowledge　of　the　Eternal　is　illumination。
  But　increase　of　life　is　not　always　a　blessing。　The　impulse　to　live　is　strong；　but　vigor　at　its　height　approaches　its　decay。
  This　is　not　Tao。
  And　what　is　not　Tao　will　quickly　pass　away。
  〃The　Nature　of　Teh。〃
  The　highest　virtue　assumes　no　excellence；　thus　it　is　the　very　essence　of　Teh。
  But　excellence　is　assumed　by　the　lower　virtue；　and　since　it　fears　to　lose　it；　it　is　not　of　the　real　essence　of　Teh。
  The　activity　of　the　highest　excellence　is　inward　（Wu　Wei）：　it　acts　without　being　seen；　but　the　activity　of　the　lower　excellence　is　outward：　it　cannot　act　without　being　seen。
  The　highest　benevolence　is　ever　active；　but　not　subject　to　necessity。
  The　highest　justice　takes　action　and　its　action　inevitably　continues。
  The　highest　order　is　always　operative；　and　asserts　itself　when　there　is　no　response。
  So；　when　Tao　is　not　seen；　Teh　appears。
  When　Teh　is　not　seen；　benevolence　appears。
  When　benevolence　is　not　seen；　justice　appears。
  When　justice　is　not　seen；　order　and　expediency　appear。
  But　expediency　is　the　mere　shadow　of　right　and　truth；　it　is　the　beginning　of　disorder。
  False　knowledge　is　the　perverted　semblance　of　Tao：　it　is　the　source　of　all　delusion。
  That　is　why　the　Enlightened　One　abides　in　stability　and　dwells　not　in　passing　shadows。
  The　Enlightened　One　holds　on　to　the　real　and　ignores　superficialities。
  〃The　Serene　Nature。〃
  The　highest　excellence　is　like　water；　it　benefits　those　in　the　most　inaccessible　places　without　striving。　It　occupies　the　lowest　level；　which　people　avoid。　Therefore；　it　is　analogous　to　Tao。
  It　has　the　virtue　of　gravity；　that　finds　its　own　place。
  It　has　the　virtue　of　the　heart；　that　knows　the　silent　deeps。
  It　has　the　virtue　of　the　kind；that　bestows　the　fullest　gifts。
  It　has　the　virtue　of　the　words　that　speak　the　greatest　truths。
  It　has　the　virtue　of　the　service　that　uses　the　highest　skill。
  It　has　the　virtue　of　the　rhythm　that　is　unfailing　in　its　timeliness。
  〃The　Dignity　of　Teh。〃
  Heaviness　is　the　foundation　of　lightness。
  Stillness　is　the　master　of　motion。
  Therefore；　the　wise　person；　in　their　daily　life；　does　not　depart　from　inner　repose。
  Though　they　enter　a　glorious　palace；　they　remain　serene　and　unattached。
  Though　they　are　the　commander　of　a　myriad　forces；　they　behave　naturally　before　the　nation。Lack　of　composure　loses　credibility。
  〃The　Falling　Away。〃
  It　is　only　when　Supreme　Tao　is　not　contemplated　that　people　meditate　on　benevolence　and　justice。
  It　is　only　when　thoughts　of　prudence　and　shrewdness　appear　that　people　fall　into　deception。
  It　is　only　when　the　bonds　of　kinship　are　loosened　that　people　turn　to　filial　piety　and　paternal　affection。
  It　is　only　when　the　nation　degenerates　that　loyalty　and　allegiance　need　cultivation。
  〃Pristine　Innocence。〃
  In　the　first　age　people　did　not　know　that　there　was　government。
  In　the　next　age　people　loved　and　praised　government。
  In　the　third　age　people　were　afraid　of　government。
  In　the　next　age；　government　was　despised。
  It　is　said：　〃If　you　lack　trust；　you　will　inspire　no　confidence。
  How　cautious　the　Enlightened　One　is；　how　sparing　in　words！　For　with　the　task　accomplished；　and　the　affairs　of　people　in　order；　the　Enlightened　One　hears　the　people　say：　〃We　have　become　autonomous！〃
  〃Reverting　to　Innocence。〃
  Cast　off　self…righteousness；　rid　yourself　of　cleverness；　and　all　people　will　benefit　a　hundredfold。
  Cease　to　assume　benevolence；
  Cease　your　claims　to　justice；
  And　all　people　will　revert　on　their　own　to　paternal　love　and　filial　devotion。
  Renounce　all　scheming；　abandon　all　gains；　and　stealing　and　theft　will　cease　to　appear。
  The　meaning　of　these　three　principles　is　that　outward　show　is　for　nothing；　seek　early　innocence；
  Hold　fast　to　that　which　endures；
  Show　ourselves　simple；　preserve　the　inner　light；
  Restrain　ambition　and　curb　selfish　desires。
  〃Trust　in　Teh。〃
  The　heart　of　the　Enlightened　One　is　not　their　own；　they　attract　the　hearts　of　people　by　expanding　theirs。
  To　the　person　who　is　kind；　they　give　kindness。
  To　the　person　without　kindness；　they　are　kind。
  This　is　the　kindness　of　Teh。
  To　the　person　who　is　trustworthy；　they　give　trust。
  To　the　person　without　trust；　they　give　trust。
  This　is　the　faith　of　Teh。
  The　Enlightened　One　dwells　in　the　world　with　patience；　adjusting　their　heart　to　the　hearts　of　people。
  The　ears　and　the　eyes　of　all　are　towards　them；　the　Enlightened　One　sees　them　all　as　children　in　their　care。
  〃The　Cultivation　of　Insight。〃
  Those　who　are　planted　in　kindness　shall　not　be　uprooted。
  That　which　is　preserved　in　kindness　shall　not　be　taken　away。
  Their　children　of　all　generations　shall　be　blessed　forever。
  Cultivate　the　Tao　of　your　being；　and　your　Teh　shall　become　real。
  Cultivate　the　Tao　of　your　brethren；　and　your　Teh　shall　overflow。
  Cultivate　the　Tao　of　your　abode；　and　your　Teh　shall　ever　endure。
  Cultivate　the　Tao　of　your　nation；　and　your　Teh　shall　be　all…prolific。
  Cultivate　the　Tao　of　the　world；　and　your　Teh　shall　become　universal。
  Therefore；　by　one's　person　there　is　insight　of　real　being：　by　one's　brethren　there　is　insight　of　real　brotherhood；　by　one's　abode　there　is　insight　of　the　real　home；　by　one's　country　there　is　insight　of　the　real　nation；　and　by　the　world　there　is　insight　of　the　Universe。
  How　do　I　know　that　the　Universe　is　real？
  Because　it　is　self…evident！
  〃The　Discriminating　Teh。〃
  One　who　knows　others　is　discerning。
  One　who　knows　their　own　self　is　enlightened。
  One　who　conquers　others　has　strength。
  One　who　conquers　their　own　self　are　potent。
  One　who　knows　contentment　is　rich。
  One　who　knows　persistency　has　a　real　object。
  One　who　does　not　depart　from　their　inner　essence　shall　always　endure；　though　the　body　dies；　they　do　not　perish；　but　enter　Immortality。
  〃The　Revealing　of　Teh。〃
  The　wise　people　of　old　approached　the　Mysteries　with　profound　spiritual　penetration。
  How　deep　the　fathomless！
  How　inscrutable　and　beyond　understanding！
  With　no　ordinary　words　can　I　describe　them
  They　were　cautious；　as　if　fording　a　stream　in　the　winter。
  They　were　reluctant；　as　if　fearing　to　give　offense。
  They　were　deferential；　as　if　dealing　with　strangers。
  They　were　self…effacing；　like　snow　beneath　the　sun。
  They　were　unpretentious；　like　unpolished　wood。
  They　were　lowly；　lik