| When the government is non-discriminative, lazy and dull, the people are contented and not spoiled, but quite generous. When the ruler looks sullen or depressed, the people will be happy and satisfied; When the government is efficient and smart, searching and discriminative, the people are discontented, disappointed and contentious. Even if the ruler looks lively and self-assured the people will be carping and discontented. Good fortune leans on bad fortune and bad fortune could rest on good fortune. Latent calamity is happiness, and sound happiness depends on some calamity. Fortune's route is a disaster; fortune is hidden disaster. Who knows when the limit will be reached? Who would be able to know the ultimate results of good fortune? They may be: The normal will (in time) revert to deceitful. There will hardly be any correctness (used to govern the world) any more. The old correct will become the perverse again. Some of the good we know of will again turn evil. Few know it, but the people have been deluded for a long time. Anyhow, there's a bourn where there's neither right nor wrong. It's in a realm where every straight is doubled by a crooked and every good by an ill. Surely mankind has gone long enough astray? Therefore the wise man has firm, square principles. He is at times as pointed as a square, but hardly cuts or pierces. His integrity is as acute as a knife but hardly cuts, hardly hurts (innocent others), so "he shapes the corners without lopping", He is indeed straight, but doesn't extend his sway. He reaches his [most cherished] ends. He is far from high-handed, he can be bright, but refrains from dazzling. |
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