Verse 67

Everyone under heaven says my Tao is great
and resembles nothing else.

It is because it is great that it seems different.
If it were like anything on earth
it would have been small from the beginning.

I have three treasures that I cherish and hold fast.
The first is gentleness,
the second is simplicity,
the third is daring not to be first
among all things under heaven.

Because of gentleness I am able to be courageous.
Because of simplicity I am able to be generous.
Because of daring not to be first
I am able to lead.

If people forsake gentleness and attempt to be courageous,
forsake simplicity and attempt to be generous,
forsake the last place and attempt to get the first place,
this is certain death.

Gentleness conquers in battle and protects in defence.
What heaven guards, it arms with the gift of gentleness.

Verse 68

A skilled warrior does not rush ahead of others
A skilled fighter does not make a show of anger.

A skilled victor does not seek revenge.
A skilled employer does not act superior.

This is known as the virtue of not competing.
This is known as making use of the abilities of others.
This is known as being united with heaven as it was in ancient times.

Verse 69

The master soldiers have a saying:

I dare not be the host but prefer to be the guest.
I dare not advance an inch but prefer to retreat a foot.

This is called marching without moving,
rolling up a sleeve without baring an arm,
capturing a foe without a battlefront,
arming yourself without weapons.

There is no disaster greater than attacking and finding no enemy.
Doing so will cost you your treasure.

Thus it is that when opposing forces meet,
victory will go to those who take no delight in the situation.

Verse 70

My words are easy to understand and easy to put into practice.
Yet no one under heaven understands them or puts them into practice.

My words have an ancestor.
My actions are governed.

Because people do not understand this
they do not understand me.

Those who understand me are few.
Those who follow me should be respected.

Therefore, the True Person wears homespun clothes
and carries jade in the heart.