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<title>10 - Chapters 63 - 67</title>
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63.

Keep still.
Don't work so hard.
Learn to appreciate everyday life.
Pay attention to details.
Start small and work your way up.
When people give you trouble, 
let it slide.

Break everything down to its essentials.
Get the job done 
before it becomes a chore.

With the right preparation,
difficult tasks 
can be completed with ease;
every major project 
consists of simple steps.

The Masters don't take on 
more than they can handle,
which is why 
they can do just about anything.

Don't promise 
more than you can deliver,
and don't underestimate the task:
You'll only make things harder for yourself.

The Masters are always aware 
of the difficulties involved,
which is why 
they never have to deal with them.


64.

It's easy to maintain balance.
Trouble can be nipped in the bud.
Fragile things break easily, 
and small things are easy to lose.

Deal with the situation 
before it becomes a problem.
Keep everything straight 
so it can't get messed up.

Every tree was once a seed.
Every skyscraper started out 
with a shovelful of dirt.
And--stop me if you've heard this one before--
a journey of a thousand miles 
begins with a single step.

When you try too hard, 
you defeat your own purpose.
Cling to stuff,
and you will suffer loss.
The Masters make no effort, 
so they never fail.
They aren't attached to things,
so they never feel loss.

People often screw up 
when the job's nearly done.
Pay as much attention 
to the finishing touches 
as you do to the initial steps,
and you won't screw up like that.

The Masters try to be free from desire.
They don't collect precious things.
They don't cling to any beliefs.
They pay attention 
to what everybody else ignores.
They help the world get right with Tao,
but don't try to change a thing.


65.

In ancient times, 
leaders who were right with Tao
didn't teach everybody 
how to become enlightened.
They kept people's lives simple.

People who know too much 
can't be taught anything.
Leaders who try to be clever 
always screw things up.
Leaders who keep things simple
always make things right.

If you get that,
you'll understand
the mysterious power of Tao.

That kind of power is so deep, 
so extensive,
it penetrates into every level of existence.


66.

An ocean is greater 
than the hundred rivers 
that flow into it,
and all it does is wait 
to receive what they bring.

If you want to teach people, 
don't talk down to them.
If you want to lead them, 
find out where they want to go.

People love leaders 
who make them feel safe 
without smothering them.
They'll always support 
a leader like that,
and because he doesn't try 
to compete with anybody,
nobody is able to compete with him.


67.

Everywhere I go, people tell me,
"Tao is so powerful, so immense, 
it's inconceivable!"

But it's only powerful 
because it's inconceivable.
If we could wrap our minds around it,
Tao would be just another thing.

The three most important qualities in life 
are compassion, 
or showing kindness and mercy to others, 
moderation, 
or knowing what a thing is worth, 
and modesty, 
or knowing your place in the world.

Courage stems from showing
kindness and mercy to others.
Generosity starts with knowing 
what a thing is worth.
True leadership begins with knowing 
your place in the world.

But these days,
I see everyone trying to act courageous 
without any trace of compassion.
They try to be generous
but they don't practice moderation
in their own lives.
They act like leaders, 
but they have no sense of modesty.
No good can come of this.

If you want to get ahead, 
show people compassion.
When other people attack you,
defend yourself with compassion.
It's the most powerful force in the universe.


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