| Every one says my dao is greatly like folly. Just because it's great, it looks like folly. Great ways don't look like the ordinary anyhow. If it did not look like folly, it could have turned small and petty long ago! Then it would have been small. As for things that don't look foolish to common men, there can be no question about their smallness. I have three treasures. Guard and keep them: The first is a deep, deep concern; call it mystic pity, if you like. The second is never too much, which may mean frugality. And the third is refusal to be ahead, foremost or first, for I hardly dare to be ahead. Deep, concerned love brings guts [or fall]. Through not doing too much, one has amplitude (of reserve power): Who has spared, may then give and seem generous. Through not presuming to be the first and best there is, one can develop one's talent and strength; let it mature to dominate a world. On the other hand, to be bold by forsaking deep love; to be generous by forsaking frugality-won reserves and clever, artful restraint; and to be ahead and rushing in front by forsaking following behind; all this could prove fatal in the end. Ardent, loving concern can't fight well without conquering a lot. It shall help in the case of attack, and likewise to be firm in the case of defence. When heaven is to save a person, heaven will protect him through deep love. Heaven arms those it would not see beaten, with all right concern. [Let's hope that.] |
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