The Tao Teh Ching – #64 – Revealed by Lao Tzu – Rendered by Charles Scamahorn

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The Tao Teh Ching – #62

64

Things that are quiet are easy for you to handle;
Things not yet apparent are easy for you to forestall;
Things that are weak are easy for you to break; and
Things that are scanty are easy for you to scatter.
Therefore nullify potential problems before they exist, and
Revert little problems before disorder appears.
—
A great tree begins with a tiny sprout;
A high tower begins with accumulating single stones; and
A journey of a thousand days begins with a single step.
—
When you perform an act,
You are responsible for the ensuing damage;
When you hold a thing,
You are responsible for its loss.
If you do things by attracting their being done,
You cannot be faulted for any damage or loss.
—
If people get too close to their goals they vanish. So
Create goals at the end as at the beginning, and
Your ends will be completed.
Seek attractive goals, and
Never make things too difficult to get.
—
Learn the art of attractive doing;
Restore to the people what they have lost;
Restore natural things to their way; and
Never act directly.

65

The Tao Teh Ching – #63 – Revealed by Lao Tzu – Rendered by Charles Scamahorn

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The Tao Teh Ching – #62, The Tao Teh Ching – #63

63

Whether the tasks be great or small, many or few,
To do something, attract its being done;
To perform an action, attract that action into existence.
—
Solve difficult problems while they are easy;
Deal with big problems while they are still small;
Difficult problems arise from the easy ones, and
Big problems grow from little ones.
—
Be simple!
From the beginning to the end never do anything difficult.
When you do simple things, the multitudes may follow, and
Many things will be accomplished.
—
Promises always lack foresight.
They are easily made, but
Surely, promises lead to problems.
When you realize what creates problems,
You may solve them before they arise.

64

The Tao Teh Ching – #62 – Revealed by Lao Tzu – Rendered by Charles Scamahorn

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The Tao Teh Ching – #62

62

The method of Tao is the secret source to all in the universe,
The good person’s private guide, and
The person attracting goodness’ eternal essence.
—
With attractive words anything may be successfully proffered, but
It is a leader’s behavior which the people try to follow.
—
The people will never discard a person attracting goodness;
It is for this quality that princes are brought into leadership;
It is for this quality that ministers are appointed.
—
Rather than lead the people on a stallion with sword raised high,
—
Demonstrate the virtue of quiet lowliness, and
Guide them along the Tao path.
—
Why do the wise ones value this way?
Why? Indeed! Don’t they say,
“What is sought will be found,” and
“Can one be saved by sinning?”

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