He doesn't often value rare treasures publicly。He hardly values objects hard to get or find … in public。 He says he learnsthat which is unlearned。 He claims he sets no store by products difficultto get； and so teaches things untaught。＇It's a trap。＇
But he also turns all beings back to thevery thing they have left behind； so that he can assist in the course ofnature somehow。 And if so； 〃the ten thousand creatures〃 can be restoredto their self…sameness； the self…so which is of ＇some＇ dao。 Yes； he supportsall things in some of their natural states。
This he does； but hardly presume to interfereall right。 He hardly dares to act in the open。 So he denies to take anyvisible action。
65
In old times those who practised a dao well；did hardly aim to enlighten people； but to make them ignorant and holdthem that way。 It seems that the more knowledge people have； the harderthey are to rule。 Maybe it's hard for people to live in peace due to verymuch knowledge。
So he who rules the state through knowledgeis robber of the state； and who seek to rule by giving knowledge couldbe like ＇coming＇ bandits preying on the land。 Maybe all who seek to ruleby knowledge form the nation's curse； eventually。
He who rules a state not through knowledgeis a blessing。 Those who seek not to rule by knowledge； are the nation'sblessing。 To rule without giving knowledge could bring a stock of goodfortune to the land。＇And maybe not。＇
One who knows these two things also （sets）the standard。
Always to know such an old standard is calledto of the deep； secret calibre。
When such secret virtue becomes clear； outgoing；far…reaching； and lets things revert back to some guessed at source； allrelated things could return to some natural state。 It could go all theway back to ＇brutal＇ concord and harmony。
66
How did the great rivers and seas becomethe kings of the ravines？ By being experts at keeping low。
Therefore to be above the people you haveto speak as though you're lower than the people in some ways。
So to be ahead of the people； you have tofollow them in your own person。 To be foremost or guide well； walk behind。
The wise man keeps himself on top； and thepeople hardly feels his weight or get crushed by it in time。 He guidesin this way； and the people don't harm him the least。
He can even walk in front ＇as an example＇；and people don't wish him harm。＇Let's hope that。＇
In this dynamic ＇guru＇ way everything underheaven will be glad to be pushed by him and will not find his guidanceirksome。 Then the people of the world are glad； the world rejoices andpraises him without getting tired of it； in order to uphold him forever。
He accomplishes his aims by overt non…striving。Because he doesn't compete in the open； no one can compete well with him。
67
Every one says my dao is greatly like folly。Just because it's great； it looks like folly。 Great ways don't look likethe ordinary anyhow。
If it did not look like folly； it could haveturned small and petty long ago！ Then it would have been small。 As forthings that don't look foolish to common men； there can be no questionabout their smallness。
I have three treasures。 Guard and keep them：
The first is a deep； deep concern； call itmystic pity； if you like。
The second is never too much； which may meanfrugality。
And the third is refusal to be ahead； foremostor first； for I hardly dare to be ahead。
Deep； concerned love brings guts ＇or fall＇。
Through not doing too much； one has amplitude（of reserve power）： Who has spared； may then give and seem generous。
Through not presuming to be the first andbest there is； one can develop one's talent and strength； let it matureto dominate a world。
On the other hand；
to be bold by forsaking deep love；
to be generous by forsaking frugality…wonreserves and clever； artful restraint；
and to be ahead and rushing in front by forsakingfollowing behind；
all this could prove fatal in the end。
Ardent； loving concern can't fight well withoutconquering a lot。 It shall help in the case of attack； and likewise tobe firm in the case of defence。
When heaven is to save a person； heaven willprotect him through deep love。 Heaven arms those it would not see beaten；with all right concern。＇Let's hope that。＇
68
A skilful leader of troops is never oppressivewith his military strength。 The brave soldier is hardly very violent；
The best fighter doesn't become visibly angry；he hardly loses his temper。
A skilful conqueror doesn't compete withpeople。 The great conqueror doesn't fight for small issues alone。
The best user of men acts as though he weretheir inferior and puts himself below them by the virtue of not…competing。
This is called the ability or capacity touse men； or matching heaven； or being suited to the highest found principle；＇maybe of old＇
69
The strategists say：
〃If I dare not be the guest； then let mebe the host。 When I dare not take the offensive； then I'll take the defensive。If you doubt your ability to advance； then retreat。〃 Also： 〃When you doubtyour ability to meet the enemy's attack； take the offensive yourself。〃
Much of this his implies to march withoutvisible formations； its in part like rolling up the sleeve； and yet presentingno bare arm。 Or it could be like stretching your arm without showing thesleeves。
Confront well； present no battle…front yourself。Refrain from charging in frontal attacks； and seem to be armed withoutweapons。＇Let that come as a surprise。＇ Hold a thousand weapons withoutseeming to have them。
Now； great calamity comes from making lightof an enemy。 There's no greater catastrophe than if a foolishly underestimatedenemy robs and destroys your most cherished treasures。 It could even destroyyour topmost treasure； your old； dear body。 Refrain from having an enemyat the price of losing your body and life。 Remember： He whose enemy presentsno front； could lose his booty。
Therefore when armies meet； the kind…lookingman of sorrows could win ＇by such as surprise tactics。 But often it's theopposite that happens。＇ Who doesn't delight in warfare in the open； hewins。＇And most often not？＇
70
My words are very easy to understand andvery easy to put into practice。 Yet no one understands them； no one putsthem into practice。
But some of my teaching could have natureas a source； and also there's a principle…ruled ancestry in some of mywords。
Yes； ＇some of＇ my deeds have a lord； my deedscould have ＇right＇ dao as sovereign。
Most men don't understand this； they're unableto understand me。
Few people understand me； and on this my realvalue depends。 I am highly valued； for few understand me。
The wise man wears a coarse cloth on topand carries jade underneath his dress； within his bosom。
71
To know that you do not know is best。 Whoknows that he doesn't know is the highest。 To know when one doesn't knowis best。
Who pretends to know what he doesn't knowis sick…minded； To think one knows when one doesn't know is a sort of malady。Pretend to know when you don't know … that's a disease。 He who recognisesthis disease as a disease can also cure himself of it ＇and maybe not＇。＇One may eventually get free from a disease by recognising it for whatit is。＇
Who recognises sick…mindedness as sick…mindednesscan't be wholly sick…minded； after all。
The wise man is hardly sick…minded if herecognises sick mind as sick and also cures some diseases。 He's hardlya sick mind。
72
If the people hardly fear what's dreadful；something greatly dreadful could descend。 If people have no fear of force；then great force descends。 So never mind if people are not intimidatedby your authority。 Some mightier authority could deal with them in thelong run。
Neither despise their dwellings nor narrowthe living space of their dwellings。 They could cease to turn away if youdon't put them in jail。 Don't dislike their offspring； harass or oppresstheir lives。 Don't harass them； and they could cease to turn from you。Drop heavy taxes； and the people won't be fed up。 If you don't persecuteall； you'll hardly be so much disliked。 They're not oppressed if you refrainfrom gross oppressive measures。
So the wise man knows himself but hardly showsoff。 Knows his own value； but doesn't exalt himself
Truly； 〃he rejects the one （brute force orenemicy） but accepts or takes the other （being some kind； sturdy neighbour）。〃
73
Who is brave in daring can kill or get killed＇on a bus＇。
On the other hand； one who is brave in notdaring； can survive or give life。 Either approach can be profitable orunprofitable； still one of them is harmful。
Who is brave in non…daring without ado letslive。 There can be some advantage and some disadvantage in each approach…
Now； 〃Dao…heaven hates the one it hates； hateswhat it hates； and none can know the reason why。〃 Who knows why and whatit dislikes？ Heaven dislikes certain people； but the wise man considersit a tricky question。 Yes； why heaven seems to hate … even a wise man regardsit as a tricky question。
Well； it's in the fixed dao sets of heavennot to strive