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<title>06 - Chapters 38 - 42</title>
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PART TWO
TE (POWER)


38.

People with integrity 
don't even think about it.
That's how you can tell 
they have integrity.
Other people talk about 
how much integrity they have,
when they really don't have much. 
If any.

Truly powerful people 
don't do anything, 
but they get the job done.
Other people are always busy 
doing something,
but nothing ever gets done.

When kind people act,
they do so without thinking about it.
When the just act,
they're always sure 
they're doing the right thing.
But when the righteous act, 
and nobody reacts,
they try to force everyone 
to do things their way.

If you're not in touch with Tao, 
at least you can still have integrity.
If you don't have integrity, 
there's always kindness.
If you don't have kindness, 
there's always justice.
If you don't have justice,
all you have left is righteousness.

Righteousness is an pale imitation 
of true faith and loyalty,
and always leads to trouble.
If you've already made up your mind,
you don't know the first thing about Tao, 
and you never will.

The Masters pay attention 
to what's beneath the surface.
They'll look at a tree's leaves, 
but eat the fruit.
They turn all that down, 
so they can accept this.


39.

Since time began, 
this is what it's meant 
to be in touch with Tao:

Tao made the heavens clear.
Tao made the earth solid.
Tao made our spirits strong.
Tao made the valleys fertile.
Tao gave all living things life.
Tao gave rulers authority.

Without Tao, 
the heavens would collapse.
Without Tao,
the earth would crumble.
Without Tao, 
our spirits would fade away.
Without Tao, 
the valleys would dry up.
Without Tao, 
all life would become extinct.
Without Tao, 
rulers would stumble and fall.

Humility gives us power.
Our leaders should think of themselves 
as insignificant, powerless, 
unworthy of their stature.
Isn't that what humility is all about?

Be strong, 
but pay no attention to hollow praise.
Don't call attention to yourself. 
Don't make a scene.


40.

Tao is always heading 
back to where it came from.
Tao advances by not pressing forward.

Things exist because they are.
They are because they once were not.


41.

When a wise person hears about Tao, 
he gets right with it.
When an ordinary person 
hears about Tao,
he tries to get right with it, 
but eventually gives up.
When a fool hears about Tao, 
he just laughs and laughs.
If he didn't laugh, it wouldn't be Tao.

Here's what they find so funny:
The path to enlightenment 
seems covered in shadows.
The way forward
 feels like taking a step back.
The easiest path seems difficult.
Those with the most virtue 
seem debased.
Those who are most pure 
seem to be grubby and soiled.
The deepest thoughts appear shallow.
The greatest strength
looks like weakness.
What is most real 
strikes us as imaginary.
The largest space has no boundaries.
The greatest talent 
seems to produce nothing.
The greatest voice is unhearable.
The greatest beauty is invisible.

Tao is hidden to us
and it has no name.
It is the source and the strength of all things.


42.

Chapter 42 starts out 
with some cosmic mumbo-jumbo
about Tao making one, 
one making two,
two making three, 
and three making everything else.

I don't know what it means,
and, frankly,
I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Let's get to the practical part:
Men hate to be called 
powerless, insignificant, or unworthy,
but that's how 
Masters describe themselves.

Because when we lose, we've won.
And when we succeed, we've failed.

Other people will tell you 
what I'm telling you now:
"Live by the sword, die by the sword."
That's pretty much what Chapter 42
boils down to.
(See Chapter 46 for more details.)


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