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I dare not be the host, but prefer to be the guest1

I dare not advance an inch, but prefer to withdraw a foot

This is called marching in formation without formation

Raising arms without arms

Grappling enemies without enemies

Holding weapons without weapons

There is no greater disaster than to underestimate the enemy

Underestimating the enemy almost made me lose my treasures2

So when evenly matched armies meet

The side that is compassionate shall win3

70

My words are easy to understand, easy to practice

The world cannot understand, cannot practice

My words have basis

My actions have principle

People do not understand this

Therefore they do not understand me1

Those who understand me are few

Thus I am highly valued

Therefore the sage wears plain clothes but holds jade2

71

To know that you do not know is highest

To not know but think you know is flawed1

Only when one recognizes the fault as a fault

can one be without fault2

The sages are without fault

Because they recognize the fault as a fault3

That is why they are without fault4

72

When people no longer fear force

They bring about greater force1

Do not limit their place

Do not reject their livelihood

Because the ruler does not reject them

Therefore they do not reject the ruler2

Therefore the sages:

Know themselves but do not glorify themselves

Respect themselves but do not praise themselves3

Thus they discard that and take this

73

The bold in daring will be killed

The bold in not daring will survive1

Of these two, one may benefit, the other may harm

The one hated by Heaven2—who knows the reason?

Even the sages still find this difficult

The Tao of Heaven:

Does not contend and yet excels in winning

Does not speak and yet excels in responding

Is not summoned and yet comes on its own

Is unhurried and yet excels in planning3

The heavenly net is vast

Loose, and yet does not let anything slip through4

74

People do not fear death1

How can they be threatened with death?

If people are made to constantly fear death

Then those who act unlawfully

I can capture and kill them

Who would dare?

There exists a master executioner that kills2

If we substitute for the master executioner to kill

It is like substituting for the great carpenter to cut

Those who substitute for the great carpenter to cut

It is rare that they do not hurt their own hands3

75

The people’s hunger

Is due to the excess of their ruler’s taxation

So they starve1

The people’s difficulty in being governed

Is due to the meddling of their ruler

So they are difficult to govern2

The people’s disregard for death

Is due to the glut in their ruler’s pursuit of life

So they disregard death3

Therefore those who do not strive for living

Are better than those who value living4

76

While alive, the body is soft and pliant

When dead, it is hard and rigid

All living things, grass and trees,

While alive, are soft and supple

When dead, become dry and brittle1

Thus that which is hard and stiff

is the follower of death

That which is soft and yielding

is the follower of life2

Therefore, an inflexible army will not win

A strong tree will be cut down3

The big and forceful occupy a lowly position

While the soft and pliant occupy a higher place4

77

The Tao of Heaven

Is like drawing a bow

Lower that which is high

Raise that which is low

Reduce that which has excess

Add to that which has deficiency1

The Tao of Heaven

Reduces the excessive

And adds to the deficient2

The Tao of people is not so

Reducing the deficient

In order to offer to the excessive3

Who can offer their excess to the world?

Only those who have the Tao

Therefore, sages act without conceit

Achieve without claiming credit

They do not wish to display their virtue4

78

Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water1

Yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong

This is because nothing can replace it2

That the weak overcomes the strong

And the soft overcomes the hard

Everybody