65 The ancient Mastersdidn’t try to educate the people,but kindly taught them to not-know. When they think that they know the answers,people are difficult to guide.When they know that they don’t know,people can find their own way. If you want to learn how to govern,avoid being clever or rich.The simplest pattern is the clearest.Content…
63 Act without doing; work without effort. Think of the small as large and the few as many. Confront the difficult while it is still easy; accomplish the great task by a series of small acts. The Master never reaches for the great; thus she achieves greatness. When she runs into a difficulty, she…
62 The Tao is the center of the universe,the good man’s treasure,the bad man’s refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words,respect can be won with good deeds;but the Tao is beyond all value,and no one can achieve it. Thus, when a new leader is chosen,don’t offer to help himwith your wealth or your…
61 When a country obtains great power,it becomes like the sea:all streams run downward into it.The more powerful it grows,the greater the need for humility.Humility means trusting the Tao,thus never needing to be defensive. A great nation is like a great man:When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.Having realized it, he admits it.Having…
60 Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking. Center your country in the Tao and evil will have no power. Not that it isn’t there, but you’ll be able to step out of its way. Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear…
56 Those who know don’t talk.Those who talk don’t know. Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity. Be like the Tao. It can’t be approached or withdrawn from,benefited or harmed,honored or brought into disgrace.It gives itself…
55 He who is in harmony with the Tao is like a newborn child. Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak, but its grip is powerful. It doesn’t know about the union of male and female, yet its penis can stand erect, so intense is its vital power. It can scream its head…
52 In the beginning was the Tao.All things issue from it;all things return to it. To find the origin,trace back the manifestations.When you recognize the childrenand find the mother,you will be free of sorrow. If you close your mind in judgmentsand traffic with desires,your heart will be troubled.If you keep your mind from judgingand…
51 Every being in the universeis an expression of the Tao.It springs into existence,unconscious, perfect, free,takes on a physical body,lets circumstances complete it.That is why every beingspontaneously honors the Tao. The Tao gives birth to all beings,nourishes them, maintains them,cares for them, comforts them, protects them,takes them back to itself,creating without possessing,acting without expecting,guiding…
50 The Master gives himself up to whatever the moment brings. He knows that he is going to die, and he has nothing left to hold on to: no illusions in his mind, no resistances in his body. He doesn’t think about his actions; they flow from the core of his being. He holds…
