THE WAY HOME

An unfaithful translation of

Lao Tsu’s Tao Te Ching

Lao Tsu, Charles Davies

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hello@charlesdavies.com

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PART ONE: THE WAY

one.

no one can show you the way,

only the way they know.

they can give you steps to take,

but then you'd have their steps

and not your way.

because your journey started

before you took your first step

and your first step laid out a path for you alone.

now whenever you stand still

you're back there

where your journey started.

and whenever you move

there you are

on your way.

standing still or moving,

it's all the same.

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if you know that, then you know your way.

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two.

look for beauty and you'll find ugliness.

look for goodness and you’ll find evil.

look for highs and you'll find lows.

look for shortcuts and feel your journey get longer.

what if you don't look for anything?

what if you don't try to get anywhere

and don't show anyone the way?

things will come and go.

don't reach out for them.

don't hold on to them.

if you claim nothing as yours

then no one can take it from you.

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three.

praising someone - that's just another way of saying "i matter".

saying something is worthwhile - that's just another way of saying "i'm right".

but if you see nothing you want,

then nothing will bother you.

here's what i do:

i don't try to work it out.

i eat when i'm hungry,

i take care over my bones

and want for nothing.

if i go on my way without trying to get anywhere, where can i go wrong?

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four.

the way is clear

like a vast open space.

it can blunt sharpness,

unravel knots,

turn light into darkness

and consume the whole world.

it's always been there ahead of everything

and no one knows where it came from.

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five.

there's one movement,

one way,

that gives life

and expects nothing in return.

picture a pair of bellows:

they consume emptiness

until they’re full

then give away fullness

until they’re empty.

it's not hard to learn.

it's as easy as breathing.

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six.

it's like breathing well,

this urge for movement

that lets everything flow.

it's like

the spring

the river

and the sea,

except there's nothing in it

and it goes on forever.

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seven.

the sky goes on forever.

the earth stays in its place.

going on forever

and

staying in place

there's nothing more to do.

don't reach out for anything.

don't put yourself forward.

just watch everything come your way.

there's nothing more to do.

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eight.

water knows the way.

it can flow anywhere without trying

and it gives life to everything.

it ends up in the lowest places

and brings them life.

think of your heart as a lake

calm, quiet and deep

as it flows into the world

it cannot lie

it finds a way.

with this spring in your heart

you move through the world

and the world moves through you.

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nine.

if you fill a bowl that's full,

you'll only make a mess.

if you sharpen a knife that's already sharp,

you'll only wear it out.

if you think some savings

will make you safe,

if you think some recognition

will prove your worth,

that's still more than you need.

if you depend on something you can lose,

you'll spend your whole life trying to hold on.

just do the work

then walk away.

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ten.

can you find the openness to hold everything together?

can you find the strength to be as relaxed as a little baby?

can you refine your mind until it's empty?

can you love people so much that you're willing to leave them alone?

when you're given what you want and it's taken away,

can you still hold on to letting go?

constantly giving

in every direction

freeing everyone

holding nothing back

wanting nothing in return

never showing off

always peaceful

that's the way that brings everything.

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eleven.

it's not the spokes that make a wheel work,

but the infinitesimal point that joins them.

a pot might be made of clay,

but it's the space inside that makes it a pot.

imagine a house with no doors or windows -

it's the spaces that make a room.

they're all made out of something,

but it's the nothing that makes them work.

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twelve.

bright colours, loud noises and strong flavours

will leave you blind, deaf and tasteless.

when you're chasing after something,

it's easy to lose your way.

if you're desperate for a reward

then you're rewarded with desperation.

in your heart you know this to be true

so ignore what's in front of your face

and look in your heart.

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thirteen.

success brings you trouble.

failure brings you pain.

don't worry about success and failure.

if you succeed, you'll only worry about failure.

if you fail, you'll only worry about success.

either way - pain and trouble.

it all starts from having some idea

about who you think you are

or who you're supposed to be.

better to have no idea who you are,

then you can never say whether you're succeeding or failing.

don't try to improve yourself.

just look to the world

and whatever you see in the world,

don't try to improve that either.

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fourteen.

you can't see it.

you can't hear it.

you can't touch it.

invisible, inaudible, intangible.

it's not lighter on the top

or darker underneath.

no face at the front

or tail at the back.

no beginning and no end.

it's always been this way.

it's the same today.

it's nothing.

understand nothing

and you understand the way.

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fifteen.

once upon a time

everyone knew the way,

but that was a very long time ago.

how could you describe them now?

imagine someone crossing a frozen river

taking care over every step,

or someone constantly alert

sensing possible danger everywhere,

or a careful guest

on their very best behaviour.

they would give way like melting ice.

they were as plain and simple as a stick of green wood,

as open as a valley

and as hard to fathom as muddy water.

who has time for that now?

waiting for a natural path to open up

only acting when the moment arrives?

making your way

don't hunt for enlightenment

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and feel your footsteps get lighter.

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sixteen.

i empty my heart and let my mind settle,

returning to a place of rest.

i see the complexity of nature,

constantly evolving and transforming,

but i know that all things grow from their roots.

from silent roots.>

take this silent route.

find your way to this place,

this source of everything,

and you'll find a way of life that works with everything.

if you never find your way there,

you'll see everything as chaos

and every path will lead to more chaos.

finding this source means always letting go of everything

'always letting go of everything' -

that's how nature works.

and if you live like this?

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like nature?

what can stand in your way?

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seventeen.

the best rules are rules you don't notice.

the next best are rules you love.

worse are rules based in fear.

worst are rules based on force.

a rule you can trust

is based on trust.

it's good to find rules you love,

but better to find a way to work

with no thought for rules.

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eighteen.

when you know the way,

you don't need rules of how to act.

you don't need to be told what's just or unjust.

if you need to learn the rules,

if you need to know what's acceptable,

then you've already lost your way.

it's only when we stop valuing each other

that we start to treasure family values.

it's only when we fall into disorder and chaos

that we start looking for charismatic leaders.

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nineteen.

i gave up on wisdom and abandoned learning,

now everyone benefits from my stupidity.

i gave up on humanity and abandoned my duty,

everyone benefits from my acceptance.

i gave up on skills and abandoned profit,

i exploit nothing and no one.

but giving up these things doesn't help me find my way.

i also have to see what i see,

do what i do

and have what i've got.

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twenty.

stop trying to figure things out,

then everything gets easier.

why learn when to say 'yes' and when to say 'no'?

if you don't really mean it, do they sound so different?

is there something we're supposed to be afraid of?

so everyone wears a smile

and the whole world's a party

let us show nothing.

like a newborn baby who's not yet learned to smile.

so everyone has what they need

let us have nothing.

let us drift around,

homeless

and mindless.

everyone shines.

let us be dull.

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everyone's sharp.

let us be thick.

everyone has an end in mind.

not us.

out of our depth,

adrift,

floating along.

most people have some kind of a plan,

but not us.

all we want is to eat what we're given.

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twenty one.

all life starts this way.

the way is dark. nothing's clear, but still there is something there.

something vague taking shape.

a shape emerges from a seed. and the life that's there in the seed is the source of the whole creation.

whatever form it takes, it started this way.

it always starts this way.

is there a way to learn how it works?

yes.

this way.

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twenty-two.

whatever bends can stay whole.

whatever twists can stay straight.

whatever’s empty can be filled.

whatever’s worn out can be renewed.

accepting less is the way to get more.

having much is the way to get lost.

don’t ask for recognition and you’ll shine.

don’t argue your case and you’ll be valued.

don’t claim what’s yours and you’ll be given credit.

don’t promote yourself and you’ll be praised.

don’t compete

and no one can compete with you.

go back to the beginning

“whatever bends can stay whole”

and see that’s it’s true

turning back brings completion.

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twenty-three.

talking all the time isn't natural.

the sky knows it can't keep on raining forever.

the wind knows it has to stop blowing sometimes.

that's the way things are.

they know they can't carry on in the same way forever.

if you follow this way, whichever way things go, you'll be able to see they're just part of your way.

if you know you're going the right way, you'll go along with it.

if you're lost, you'll be lost.

and if you lose the way completely - then you'll be completely lost.

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twenty-four.

if you're stretching up on tip toe, you can't stand firm.

if you're trying to leap ahead, you won't get far.

if you look for yourself in everything - you'll see nothing but yourself.

if you need to be seen, then people will only see your neediness.

if you're busy praising yourself, then what will everyone else do?

none of these things will help you on your way.

when you find yourself heading in that direction, change course.

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twenty-five.

what was here before the world?

just space - waiting to become the world.

nothing.

what's bigger than the sky? what's greater than the world? what's bigger and greater than the greatest of men?

nothing.

men need the world, the world needs the sky, the sky needs nothing.

everything in nature is born out of nothing.

follow nothing and you follow the greatest of them all.

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twenty-six.

when something rests on the ground it feels light.

and with a good enough rest, what can upset you?

if i want to see the world, i stay where i am.

even with the best view in the world,

i'm not moved by what i see.

what good does it do to treat the world so lightly?

when you're quick to move, you lose touch with the ground.

when restlessness moves you, you lose touch with yourself.

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twenty-seven.

if you walk the right way, you leave no trace.

if you talk the right way, you do no harm.

if you give the right way, you keep no account.

if you want to make something safe, don't use a lock that can be broken.

if you want to bind something well, don't use knots that can be unwound.

if you care for something, care for everything.

if you care for someone, care for everyone.

if you've lost your way, you can learn from someone who knows their way.

if you know your way, you can learn from someone who is lost.

and if you fall out of love with learning, then all your cleverness won't keep you from losing your way.

these are the essentials.

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twenty-eight.

if you know power, but let yourself be the weakest in the world, you let the whole of life flow through you.

humble, you open to the world like a channel - and let the world do what it wants.

and because you let it in unceasingly, the light of the world shines through you unceasingly.

if you know how to shine, but let yourself be dull and ordinary, then the whole world can be seen in you.

let other people shine.

be the path people walk on.

then you'll always be close to the way. that's truly exceptional.

if you know how to be exceptional, but let yourself be mundane and ordinary, then you can be open to everything.

be the gutter - no separation between you and the world, whatever life comes to you will be enough.

become simple.

simply alive.

alive in simplicity.

you could get anything you want.

but you're simple.

so you want nothing.

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twenty-nine.

don't try to solve the world - things won't work out.

if you try to make it yours, you'll lose it.

if you try to grab it, you'll break it.

this is how the world works:

sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.

sometimes you push ahead, sometimes you're carried along.

sometimes you're strong, sometimes you're weak.

sometimes you destroy and some time you'll be destroyed.

i know this, so i don't ask for too much.

i don't flatter people and i'm not proud of myself.

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thirty.

if you've found a way that works, don't use it as a weapon.

war can only bring revenge.

the only harvest from a battleground is death and starvation.

only do what you must and no more.

don't try to seize power.

do what you must without being smug or proud or arrogant.

if you try to be strong you'll just end up weak.

you'll have lost your way.

and that’s fatal.

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thirty-one.

nothing good comes from a good weapon.

there are some people who hate weapons.

and people who know their way ignore them.

there's no such thing as a good weapon.

they are not instruments or implements.

so if you have to use force, be as restrained as you can be.

if you think that weapons are beautiful,

if you see any beauty in them

then you are rejoicing in killing people.

if you rejoice in killing people,

then you have lost your way in the world.

when luck is on your side, give way.

when luck is against you, persevere.

if you're supporting others, work.

if you're leading others, watch.

if anyone perishes, weep for them.

if you are victorious over others, treat it as a funeral.

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thirty-two.

this way is like a single point - so simple there aren't two ways to look at it.

it's a point where give and take meet.

where everyone can live harmoniously.

nothing stands in front of it.

there's a point where you have to stop trying to define things.

some things are beyond definition.

definition helps divide things.

but, this way, everything is united.

just as rivers and streams unite in the sea.

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thirty-three.

if you understand others, you're perceptive.

if you understand yourself, you're wise.

if you master other people, you're forceful.

if you master yourself, that's real strength.

if you know you have enough, that’s real wealth.

if you can have anything you want, that’s real magic.

if you tread carefully, you'll live a long life.

if you follow the way, you'll outlive yourself.

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thirty-four.

this way works with everything and can go anywhere.

it breathes life into everything and never needs feeding.

it makes everything (but makes nothing of it).

it is because it is nothing, because it never seeks greatness, that it is great.

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thirty-five.

when you find someone who looks like they know the way, you're drawn to them.

you're happy.

you feel peaceful and secure.

but that's like when there's food and music - travellers are drawn to them.

they'll stop and listen and eat.

and be drawn away from their intended path.

and why shouldn't they be?

when their own way offers nothing to look at and nothing to listen to, and will always be there to go back to?

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thirty-six.

the easiest way to make something smaller

is to stretch it too far.

the quickest way to weaken something

is to try to make it stronger.

the simplest way to win a battle is to let yourself be beaten.

if you know this way, in your weakness and flimsiness you can overpower strength and hardness.

and the best way to keep this power?

don't use it.

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thirty-seven.

this way is never trying to do anything, but being able to do anything.

when everyone works this way, everything flows with no problems

and any action one might want to take will be in tune with the way somehow.

it's a return to a silent root.

to peace.

a silent route to harmony.

a harmonious route to silence.

a way home.

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PART TWO: HOME

thirty-eight.

living happily

means not seeking happiness.

seeking happiness

is not living happily.

when you're happy

you force nothing.

forcing it destroys the happiness.

being happy means doing nothing

because there's nothing to do.

being good means doing something

but not because you have to.

being just means doing something

because you should do

and going after anyone who doesn't.

where there's no happiness,

there is only goodness.

where there's no goodness,

there's only justice.

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and where there's no justice

there's only obligation.

obligation is the ugly surface.

knowing this

you're like the fool,

questioning the appearance

in favour of the essence,

preferring the fruit

to the flower,

working your way back

to the root.

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thirty-nine.

being natural.

the sky is naturally clear.

the earth is naturally stable.

spirits are naturally high.

valleys are naturally filled.

living things are naturally fertile.

leaders are naturally looked up to.

without being natural

the sky falls apart,

the earth is unstable,

spirits fade,

valleys empty,

living things die out

and leaders lose their way.

being noble depends on being humble.

being powerful depends on being natural.

that's why strong leaders play down their importance.

using everything and claiming nothing,

not shining like a star but dropping like a stone.

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forty.

the way home is going back the way you came

and giving up what you've gained.

you were alive before you were you.

before you were alive, you were nothing.

everything comes from nature

and nature comes from nothing.

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forty-one.

if you're especially clever,

when you're shown the way,

you follow it diligently.

if you're not especially clever,

when you're shown the way,

you follow it some of the time.

if you're a fool,

when you're shown the way,

you just laugh out loud.

if it doesn't make people laugh,

then it's not the way.

it's like this:

it's because the way is dark that it shines.

it makes progress by moving backwards.

it's a level road that full of bumps.

its best quality is that it's empty.

it's pure because it's polluted.

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it's inadequacy makes it valuable.

it lasts because it's changeable.

as great as a square with no corners,

a bowl that's not been formed,

music that you can't quite hear,

a picture you can't see.

the way hides

beyond appearances and descriptions,

but it feeds and completes everything.

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forty-two.

the way leads to one.

one leads to two.

two leads to three.

three leads to everything.

everything has give and take in it.

taken together, you can see it all as one harmonious movement.

people hate being alone,

yet that is the image of the king.

by winning, you lose.

by losing, you win.

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forty-three.

it's so easy for the softest thing in the world to out-manoeuvre and out-run the hardest.

for things with no mass to enter where there is no crack.

a rare way to teach:

acting without trying,

speaking without saying a word.

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forty-four.

how you’re seen or who you are -

which is more important?

who you are or what you own -

which is more valuable?

what you own or what you give away -

which brings you more trouble?

if you’re in love with any of these,

you’ll pay a price.

if you try to cling to them, you’ll lose them.

if you know when you have enough,

there'll be no shame.

if you know when to stop,

there'll be no danger.

this is the way that lasts.

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forty-five.

even if perfect things may look unfinished,

being perfect, they need not end.

even if endless space may look empty,

being endless, it will never run out.

a true ruler may seem crooked,

a true master, inattentive,

a true poet, ineloquent.

in the cold, keep moving.

in the heat, keep calm.

in any case, stay quiet and light.

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forty-six.

when we're at peace

we let the horses run free in the fields.

when we're at war

we breed warhorses and send them away.

nothing is more damaging than the fear.

nothing more mistaken than preparing your defences.

nothing more unfortunate than making enemies.

whoever can see through the fear

will live in peace.

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forty-seven.

you don't need to leave your room

to understand the world.

you don't need to look outside

to see the way things work.

the more you find out,

the less you know.

you can get it, without going for it.

you can see it, without looking for it.

you can make it, without doing a thing.

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forty-eight.

if you pursue knowledge,

then you can add something new every day.

if you follow this way,

then you can take something away every day.

less and less until you're not doing anything.

and when you get to that point,

there'll be nothing left to do.

when you've mastered it,

you let everything take its course.

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forty-nine.

when you know the way,

you hold nothing in your heart.

you're good to people who are good

and good to people who aren't good.

that's the heart of goodness.

you trust people who can be trusted,

you trust people who can't be trusted.

that's the heart of trust.

your heart does not depend on the world

and the world can hardly understand it.

people look to see where your affection lies,

but you welcome them all as your children.

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fifty.

birth means getting out.

death means getting in.

some people love to bring life to the world.

some love to bring death.

some, who desperately cling to life, also bring death.

and a few are just alive.

those few can meet rhinos and tigers

and meet no danger.

they can go into battle

with no armour and no weapon.

the rhino's horn won't gore them.

the lion's claw won't scratch them.

weapons never catch them.

there's no room for death in them.

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fifty-one.

this is the way things start,

growing from the heart.

taking shape.

finding their place.

but whatever the shape

and whatever the place,

behind them you'll find the way and the heart.

the way leads them

and the heart feeds them.

nurturing, comforting, embracing.

making without owning.

doing without wanting.

leading without controlling.

this is the heart of the way

and the way of the heart.

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fifty-two.

the world has a mother:

the source of the world.

and you know this source

the way children know their mother.

and if you stay close to the source,

even if you die, you’ll never perish.

stand in the way.

let nothing through.

a peaceful life.

get out of the way.

push through everything.

a life without peace.

pay attention to little things

and brightness follows.

be gentle

and find strength.

follow brightness

and find its source.

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this is a way that lasts forever.

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fifty-three.

the way is wide open.

like an empty road.

but still it seems like it's easy to go off course.

out in the fields - drought.

but inside, there are wardrobes full of luxury,

tables piled high with food

and huge stockpiles of weapons.

it seems easy to go astray

from the easy way.

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fifty-four.

if you set it up in this way,

it won't be knocked down.

if this is the way you make it,

it won't be destroyed.

it will last through generations.

at home with yourself,

health.

at home with your family,

happiness.

at home with your community,

wealth.

at home with your country,

growth.

at home with the world,

everything.

be yourself with yourself.

be family with family.

be a member of your community.

be a citizen of your country.

be a being in the world.

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how can you be at home with the world?

this way.

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fifty-five.

if you follow the way

you're like a new-born child.

a scorpion wouldn't sting you.

a tiger wouldn't hunt you.

an eagle wouldn't prey on you.

weak and soft

with a strong grip.

without lust, but easily aroused.

you can scream all day and not lose your voice.

it works.

what works, lasts.

what lasts, grows.

what grows has luck.

you can get rich and grow old,

but that doesn't last long.

that's not the way.

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fifty-six.

you only talk about the way when you've lost it.

there's nothing to say when you're on your way.

better to keep quiet.

stop listening.

sit in the dark.

crumble into dust.

unravel completely.

and there you are - one with everything.

you can't embrace it,

can't escape it,

can't help it,

can't break it,

can't praise it,

can't hate it.

if you want to find it,

give up.

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fifty-seven.

if you want to lead,

then stay at home.

give up control,

abandon your plans,

forget your ideas

and let the world find its own way.

more rules bring less trust.

more weapons bring less security.

more support brings less strength.

don't force it

and people find their own way.

don't keep watch

and people take care of themselves.

give no advice

and people know what to do.

don't fight for the good...

then watch goodness flourish everywhere.

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fifty-eight.

be a friendly leader

and people get lazy.

be an unfriendly leader

and they give up hope.

bad luck follows good luck

just as good luck follows bad.

is there no way out?

if you know the way

you use no force,

even if you're strong

you don't push ahead,

even if you have a point,

you stay dim,

even if you're bright,

you stay crooked,

even if you're straight.

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fifty-nine.

if you want to be lucky

when following your purpose

or leading a crowd

then travel light

and be ready to move quickly.

whatever you have now

is everything you need.

with luck, you could run a country.

with luck, it would run itself.

leaving you deeply rooted, well grounded and well established.

with a long life and shiny eyes.

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sixty.

whether you're ruling a big country,

or frying a little fish,

the rules are the same.

do it the right way and you'll have no trouble.

or, you'll have trouble, but it will pose no threat.

or, it'll pose a threat, but it will do no harm.

if there is no resistance, there can be no battle.

just a little movement back and forth.

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sixty-one.

if you're powerful, you don't need to do anything to become more powerful.

your power means that if you meet someone weak, you need do nothing.

so, if you're powerful, you need only stay humble when faced with someone weaker.

and if you're weak, the only strength you have is your humility.

power stays close to the ground.

and gives power to people who stay close to it.

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sixty-two.

if you follow this way,

the good are rewarded

and the bad given refuge.

no need for fine words

to make you more persuasive.

no need for good manners

to make you more charming.

no need to impress anyone

with your gifts and your skills.

the best gift you can give is

to let everyone find their own way.

this was the way things worked in the old days.

rewarding effort.

forgiving mistakes.

this way was well-loved.

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sixty-three.

just carry on.

don't push ahead.

just do the work.

don't make an effort.

it's easy to start work on something difficult.

you can do great things in very small steps.

if you know the way you don't look for greatness

(though it may find you).

don't promise great things.

don't treat things too lightly.

if you assume everything is difficult

that makes everything easier.

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sixty-four.

something big starts out as something small.

so start work when it’s small.

it's easy to give up too soon,

to get careless when you're nearly done.

be as careful at the end as at the beginning.

do nothing.

want nothing.

study nothing.

teach nothing.

everyone can learn something from that.

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sixty-five.

in the old days,

people who knew the way

didn’t try to show other people the way

but left them as they were.

(it’s easier to lead people

if you’re not trying to teach them.

leading without trying to be clever

brings everyone blessings.)

the know-it-all brings only discord.

the fool brings harmony.

to understand the difference between these

is to understand the heart of the way.

the heart

leads the other way

to peace and simplicity.

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sixty-six.

why is the ocean so vast and so powerful?

because it lies lower than the rivers and the streams.

everything flows to it.

so, if you are thought of highly,

stay humble.

if you are in the lead,

let everyone go ahead of you.

this way, you can stay on top of things

without putting anybody down,

move forwards

without leaving anybody behind.

if you compete with no one,

then no one can compete with you.

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sixty-seven.

everyone thinks this way is great,

but not very useful.

if it was very useful, it wouldn’t be so great.

it wouldn’t last.

there are three things

i hold on to.

compassion.

moderation.

humility.

with compassion, it’s easy to be brave.

with moderation, it’s easy to be generous.

with humility, it’s easy to lead.

but if, trying to be brave, i gave up on compassion,

or, trying to be generous, i gave up on moderation,

or, trying to lead, i gave up on humility,

it would be fatal.

compassion wins through

and compassion defends.

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and the world conspires to protect the compassionate.

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sixty-eight.

the best generals have no love for war.

the best fighters have no anger.

the best strategists avoid confrontation.

the best leaders stay behind.

call it the power of not competing.

call it using other people’s strengths.

call it the natural way of doing things.

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sixty-nine.

old soldiers have a saying:

“don’t take the initiative.wait.

it’s better to retreat a foot

than to advance an inch.”

this is called

making progress without moving forward,

defending without force,

responding without making a move,

opposing without weapons.

there’s nothing more dangerous

than underestimating your enemy.

when you underestimate your enemy

you’re as good as lost.

when two equal forces confront each other

the one who surrenders wins.

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seventy.

the way is easy to understand and easy to follow.

but does anyone actually understand it or follow it?

it follows certain principles,

it has a clear direction,

but does anyone understand it?

does anyone even know about it?

very few people know it.

how noble are the few who follow it?

underneath their dirty, dusty clothes -

a heart of jade.

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seventy-one.

there's nothing better

than knowing that you don't know,

nothing worse

than not knowing

that you don't know,

but

if you know

there's nothing worse

than not knowing

that you don't know,

then it's not so bad

if you don't know

that you don't know.

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seventy-two.

let things happen naturally

and you'll avoid disaster.

give your life the time it needs

and you'll always have enough time.

if you know yourself well enough

to know you're nothing special,

if you love yourself

as much as you love everyone,

then your way will be clear.

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seventy-three.

being brave enough to step up will get you killed.

being brave enough to give up will keep you alive.

one way you live, one way you die.

who knows why?

because nature will win without fighting you.

it'll win the argument without saying a word.

it never gives orders, but is always obeyed.

it never steps up - but people follow its lead.

a vast, loose net

that nothing slips through.

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seventy-four.

if people have no fear of death,

then a death penalty does no good.

if everyone lives in constant fear of death

and you can seize anyone who breaks your laws

and put them to death,

then who would dare to do anything?

death comes to us all.

to reach for the scythe,

to do the work of death,

is like a novice

doing the work of the master carpenter.

you’re likely to cut your own hand.

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seventy-five.

imagine a tax on food

that feeds the rich

and leaves the poor to starve,

or a corrupt elite

that looks after itself

and leaves everyone else to fight amongst themselves,

or imagine someone who is so obsessed with life

that they cling on to it

and try to pretend that death doesn't exist.

there's more life in someone

who has no interest in life

than in someone who is desperate to hold on to it.

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seventy-six.

life is soft and bendy.

death is hard and stiff.

compare a young sapling

with an old twig.

be stiff and hard

like death,

or soft and bendy

like life.

stiff and hard snaps.

soft and bendy lasts.

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seventy-seven.

how do things move in nature?

what happens when you stretch a bow?

the top bends downwards,

the bottom bends upwards.

likewise, where there's plenty

something is taken from it

and where there's little

something is given to it.

it's only natural for things to move

from where there is plenty

to where there is a little.

so, why do we take from those who have little?

and give to those who already have plenty?

if you have plenty,

why give it to someone who has little?

because it's the natural thing to do.

give what you have and ask for nothing.

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let go of what you’ve gained

and don't hold out for praise.

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seventy-eight.

what's softer or weaker than water?

what's better than water at dissolving the hard and the strong?

weak beats strong. soft beats hard.

everyone knows it, but who lives by it?

if you know your way, you say:

i take the shame of the world as my own

(that brings me back to earth).

i take the world's bad luck as my fortune

(that brings me everything under the sun).

the truth doesn't always make sense.

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seventy-nine.

maybe you can forgive,

but not forget.

is it so bad if the memory stays?

you can keep careful accounts

without demanding payment.

you can know where you stand

and still be at home.

but when you demand what you’re owed

you know you’ve lost your way.

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eighty.

picture a small group of people living together:

no complex rules or government,

no machines to make life easier.

they know life is short,

so they travel little.

there are boats and carts,

but no passengers.

there's armour and weapons,

but no warriors.

knots tied in rope keep account.

they eat well,

they dress well,

they cherish every day,

they are at home.

the next village is so close you can hear dogs barking and cockerels crowing,

but as long as they live

no one feels a need to go there.

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eighty-one.

if beautiful words aren't true

and true words aren't beautiful,

if winning an argument makes you a fool

(because only fools argue),

if having everything does no good

and the good have nothing,

then let go of everything.

helping others is being helped

and giving to others is being given to.

if you grow naturally, you’ll do no harm.

if you win, you’ll see there’s no competition.

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