> He who studies is daily enlarged; he who follows the Dao is daily diminished. Diminished and then diminished yet more, at last attaining non-action (wuwei). Never acting, nothing is undone. b> To control the world, undertake nothing. Once you undertake to do anything you are unfit to control the world. 25 49. The sage has no constant mind: he takes the mind of the people as his mind. When I treat the good as good and I also treat those who are not good as good, my virtue is good. When I treat the faithful as faithful and I also treat the unfaithful as faithful, my virtue is faithful. The sage appears shut to the world, and towards the world he blanks his mind in a daze. The people all entrust their eyes and ears to him; he treats them as children. 50. Coming we are born, going we die. Three in ten are followers of life; three in ten are followers of death – at birth begun to move towards the death, these too are three in ten. Why is this? Because they treat life as life. I have heard that one good at protecting his life walks in the hills but never encounters rhinoceros or tiger, charges against armies and is never touched by weapon or armor. The rhinoceros finds no place to thrust its horn; the tiger finds no place to grip its claws; weapons find no place to drive their blades. Why is this? Because he has no death place in him. 51. a> The Dao gives birth to them, virtue (de) rears them, things give them form, circumstances complete them. Thus all things in the world revere Dao and honor virtue. That the Dao is revered and virtue honored is ordained by no one; it is ever so of itself. Thus the Dao gives birth to them and virtue rears them – fosters them, nurtures them, settles them, completes them, nourishes them, covers them. b> To live but not possess, to act but depend on nothing, to lead without directing, this is called mysterious virtue. 52. a> The world has a beginning – take it to be the mother of the world. Having grasped the mother, you can know the child. Having grasped the child, return to preserve the mother and you will live out your life without danger. 26 b> Block the portals and shut the gate, you will live out your days and never be troubled. Open the portals and turn to the tasks, you will live out your days and never be rescued. c> To see the small is called enlightenment; to preserve the pliant is called strength. Use the gleam to return to enlightenment without bringing calamity upon oneself. This is to make the constant your habit.