55.
He who is in harmony with the Tao is like a new born child. Its bones are soft and its muscles are weak but its grips are powerful. It doesn't know about the union of male and female. It can scream its head off all day but it never becomes hoarse. So complete is its harmony. The Master's power is like this. He lets all things come and go effortlessly without desires. He never expects results. Thus he is never disappointed. He is never disappointed thus his spirit never grows old.
56.
Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know. Close your mouth and block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity. Be like the Tao. It
can't be approached or withdrawn from, honored or brought into disgrace. It gives itself up continually. That is why it endures.
57.
If you want to be a great leader you must learn to follow the Tao. Stop trying to control. Let go of fixed plans and concepts and the world will govern itself. The more prohibitions you have the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have the less secure people will be. The more subsidies you have the less self reliant people will be. Therefore the Master says, I let go of the law and people become honest. I let go of economics and people become prosperous. I let go of religion and people become serene. I let go of all desires for the common good and the good becomes common as grass.
58.
If a country is governed with tolerance the people are comfortable and honest. If a country is governed with oppression the people are depressed and crafty. When the will to power is in charge, the higher the ideals, the lower the results. Try to make people happy you lay the groundwork for misery. Try to make people moral you lay the groundwork for vice. Thus the Master is content to serve as an example and not to impose her will. She is pointed but doesn't pierce. Straight forward but supple. Radiant but easy on the eyes.
59.
For governing a country, well, there is nothing better than moderation. The mark a of moderate man is freedom from his own ideas. Tolerant like the sky, all pervading like the sunlight. Firm like a mountain and supple like a tree in the wind. He has no destination in view and makes use of anything life happens to bring his way. Nothing is impossible for him because he has let go. He can care for people's welfare as a mother cares for her child.
60.
Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it by too much poking. Center your country in the Tao and evil will have not power. Not that is isn't there but that you might step out of its way. Give evil
nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.
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