Chapter 65

The ancient Masters
didn't try to educate the people,
but kindly taught them to not know.


Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchel

Chapter 64

What is rooted is easy to nourish.

What is recent is easy to correct.

What is brittle is easy to break

What is small is easy to scatter.

Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchel

Chapter 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.

Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchel

Chapter 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.

Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchel

Chapter 61

When a country obtains great power,

it becomes like the sea:

all streams run downward onto 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.

Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchel

Chapter 60

Governing a large country

is like frying a small fish.

You spoil it with too much poking.

Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchel

Chapter 59

For governing a country well
there is nothing better than moderation.

Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchel

Chapter 58

If a country is governed with tolerance,

the people are comfortable and honest.

If a country is governed with repression,

the people are depressed and crafty.

Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchel