They　do　not　cultivate　the　signs　of　death；　and　so　death　has　no　placeto　enter
  51
  Tao　brings　all　the　creatures　of　the　world　to　be　born
  And　by　following　the　way　they　come　to　fill　their　nature
  Thus　do　they　follow　the　tao　and　honor　virtue
  No　one　asks　them　to；？they　do　it　without　thinking
  It　creates　them　but　doesn't　own　them
  It　supplies　them　but　doesn't　make　them　dependent
  It　matures　them　but　doesn't　command　them
  This　is　the　ideal　of　virtue
  52
  What　womb　gave　birth　to　the　world？
  Know　that　mother　and　you　will　come　to　understand　her　children
  Embrace　her　and　you　will　never　suffer　harm
  Block　up　the　holes；　close　the　doors
  Do　without　doing；　and　you　will　never　labor
  Open　the　doors；　intrude　yourself　on　the　world
  Act　with　force；　and　your　troubles　will　not　end
  See　the　smallest　signs；　bend　at　their　lightest　touch
  And　let　the　subtlest　rays　lead　you
  Back　to　the　bright　light
  53
  When　you　follow　the　tao；　planning　will　only　lead　you　astray
  The　way　is　easy　and　straight；　but　people　always　look　for　shortcuts
  They　leave　weeds　in　the　fields　to　make　sure　the　courtyard　is　clean
  Empty　their　cupboards　so　that　everyone　can　gorge
  Carry　a　sword　so　they　can　wear　their　jewels　in　public
  One　excess　always　leads　to　another
  This　wanders　far　from　the　way
  54
  When　the　foundation　is　laid　well；　and　the　mortar　sound
  The　house　will　stand　long
  And　your　descendents　will　honor　your　memory
  Cultivate　virtue　in　yourself　…　see　yourself　…　so　it　will　be　genuine
  Cultivate　it　in　your　family　…　see　your　family　…　so　it　will　spread
  Cultivate　it　in　your　village　…　see　your　village　…　so　it　will　have　roots
  Cultivate　it　in　your　nation　…　see　your　nation　…　so　it　will　be　abundant
  Cultivate　it　in　the　world　…　see　the　world　…　so　there　will　be　nothingelse
  How　do　I　know　the　world　works　this　way？
  There　is　no　how；　I　listen；　and　I　know
  55
  One　who　embraces　virtue　in　its　fullest
  Is　like　a　newborn　babe
  She　has　no　fear　of　wasps　and　scorpions；　or　snakes　and　vipers
  Birds　of　prey　and　fierce　beasts　mean　nothing　to　him
  Her　bones　and　muscles　are　soft；　but　her　grip　is　firm
  Because　his　essence　is　at　its　height　he　can　become　aroused
  Though　he　knows　nothing　of　sex
  Because　her　harmony　is　at　its　height　she　will　not　become　hoarse
  Though　she　screams　all　day
  Harmony　is　the　path　of　wisdom
  But　you　can't　reach　it　be　getting　more
  You　can　try　to　breathe　more；　but　what　sense　is　in　that？
  Eventually　your　breath　will　return　to　what　it　is
  If　you　look　for　more；　you'll　get　as　much　as　you　can
  And　after　that　you'll　just　get　old
  An　easy　way　to　an　early　end
  56
  How　can　you　speak　of　things　that　go　beyond　words？
  The　wise　know　when　not　to　talk
  They　blocks　up　their　holes
  Close　their　doors
  Soften　their　light
  Settle　their　dust
  Blunt　their　rough　edges
  Untie　their　knots
  This　is　oneness
  Whoever　achieves　it
  Can　never　be　known　intimately　but　will　never　be　shunned
  Can　never　be　benefited　but　will　never　be　harmed
  57
  It　has　been　said　of　good　leaders
  'Peace　is　won　by　doing　the　expected；　war　by　doing　the　unexpected'
  But　to　lead　by　following　the　way　you　must　let　expectations　go
  Prohibitions　only　protect　one　by　depriving　another
  Weapons　only　defend　one　by　assaulting　another
  No　amount　of　knowledge　will　ever　substitute　for　wisdom
  No　amount　of　laws　can　ever　replace　honor
  When　you　lead　by　following　the　way；　remember
  If　you　do　nothing；　people　will　transform　themselves
  If　you　remain　quiet；　people　will　have　nothing　to　be　confused　about
  Don't　play　the　angles；　and　prosperity　will　be　the　norm
  Don't　impose　your　desires；　and　no　one　will　conform　or　rebel
  58
  Government　is　only　sincere　when　it　has　no　end　in　mind
  Let　it　be　discriminating　and　clear；　and　it　will　be　cunning　and　sly
  It　uses　disaster　to　create　its　own　good　fortune
  Uses　good　fortune　to　conceal　the　disasters　it　creates
  Who　knows　where　this　can　lead？
  When　nothing　is　constant　anymore
  The　natural　is　transformed　into　the　deviant
  The　good　is　twisted　into　the　evil
  And　the　confusion　will　last　for　generations
  Bring　order；　but　don't　mold　people　to　fit
  Be　conscientious；　but　not　stifling
  Be　direct；　but　not　aggressive
  Be　bright；　but　only　bright　enough　that　others　can　see　their　own　way
  59
  If　you　would　lead　men　and　follow　the　way
  It's　good　to　be　sparing　in　your　actions
  For　only　by　being　sparing　can　you　submit　early　to　the　way
  And　this　is　how　to　accumulate　virtue
  When　you　accumulate　virtue　in　this　way
  There　is　no　obstacle　you　can't　overcome
  Without　obstacles；　no　one　can　predict　your　downfall
  Thus　you　can　possess　the　state
  Being　one　with　the　way　of　the　state　like　this
  Creates　deep　roots　and　a　firm　base
  And　leads　to　long　life　and　lasting　work
  60
  Ruling　a　large　state　is　like　cooking　a　small　fish
  When　you　govern　using　the　way　power　doesn't　corrupt
  It's　not　that　power　has　no　power　over　you
  It's　just　that　it's　only　used　to　give　honor　and　respect　to　everyone
  Where　honor　and　respect　are　given；　no　one　need　do　violence　to　get　them
  And　each　is　allowed　to　master　himself
  61
  A　great　state　is　like　the　lowest　part　of　a　river
  All　things　flow　down　to　it；　given　time
  It　has　the　resources　to　let　myriad　things　grow　in　its　borders
  And　so　it　is　better　cast　in　the　feminine　principle
  If　it　rests　quietly；　then　weaker　states　will　come　to　it
  And　both　will　be　enriched
  If　it　reaches　out　to　conquer；　then　weaker　states　will　resist
  And　both　will　be　impoverished
  The　great　state　desires　diversity　and　prosperity
  The　weak　state　desires　to　be　great
  If　both　would　get　what　they　want
  The　great　state　must　let　itself　be　lower
  62
  The　tao　is　that　towards　which　all　things　flow
  It　honors　the　good　man　and　the　bad　man　alike
  Praise　can　be　bought　or　sold；　privilege　can　be　given　as　a　gift
  Even　the　bad　can　acquire　them　this　way；？will　they　be　refused？
  So　if　you　would　offer　a　gift　to　a　new　leader
  Though　you　might　shower　him　with　wealth；　or　jewels；　or　adulation
  You'd　do　better　to　sit　quietly　and　let　him　have　the　tao
  There　is　a　reason　the　ancients　valued　this　above　all　else
  'Whether　you　would　attain　something　or　be　absolved
  You　will　succeed　only　by　following　the　tao'
  It　can　not　be　given；　only　found
  Therefore　its　value　is　immeasurable
  63
  Do　without　doing；　without　expectations
  Taste　what　has　no　flavor
  ＇In　Progress＇
  64
  What　is　quiet　is　easy　to　contain
  What　has　not　yet　committed　itself　is　easy　to　divert
  The　soft　is　easily　melted；　the　small　easily　dispersed
  The　moral：　Don't　wait　till　problems　mature　before　you　act　on　them
  The　greatest　chaos　was　once　orderly
  The　tallest　tree　was　once　a　hidden　seed
  The　tallest　tower　a　pile　of　dirt
  The　longest　journey；　but　one　step；　then　another
  Those　who　act；　ruin；　those　who　cling；　lose
  Things　always　seem　to　fall　apart　just　at　completion
  Because　you　think　they're　done；　and　act　carelessly
  So　the　taoist　never　acts；　never　clings；　never　tries　to　complete
  He　is　as　aware　at　the　end　as　at　the　beginning
  Though　she　could　bring　all　things　into　perfect　harmony
  She　doesn't；　because　she　knows　what's　enough
  65
  The　ancient　leaders　who　followed　the　way
  Were　not　trying　to　enlighten　the　people
  But　instead　to　give　them　no　cause　to　have　knowledge
  If　you　use　knowledge　to　rule　you　will　be　accused　of　thievery
  Of　protecting　one　against　the　interests　of　another
  And　everyone　will　want　to　know　the　laws　to　protect　themselves
  Avoid　this；　and　your　actions　will　be　closer　to　the　way
  If　you　keep　this　always　in　mind　and　practice　it
  You　will　lead　a　virtuous　state
  The　effects　of　this　are　subtle　and　far　reaching
  And　will　always　bring　the　people　back
  66
  A　river　makes　a　valley　lush　and　fertile　because　it's　content　to　settleto　the　lowest　place
  All　things　can　draw　what　they　need　from　it；　without　drowning　in　it
  To　be　a　leader；　then；　you　must　sink　and　be　still
  And　let　the　people　gather　around　you
  You　must　follow　the　contours　of　people's　hearts
  And　spill　into　their　lives　as　little　as　possible
  When　you　are　quiet；　the　people　will　not　see　you　as　a　weight　on　theirshoulders
  When　you　keep　to　your　banks；　the　people　will　not　be　threatened　by　you
  There　will　be　no　reason　to　build　dykes　or　damns　to　limit　your　power
  And　the　people　will　delight　in　your　presence
  67
  The　whole　world　hears　these　words　and　says　they　are　beautiful；　but　oversimplified
  But　it's　precisely　because　they're　simple　that　they　can　be　great
  If　they　tried　to　be　detailed　and　precise；　what　use　would　they　be？
  There　are　only　three　compasses　to　steer　by；？treasure　them
  Compassion；　frugality；　and　genuineness
  C