How　can　such　people　start　with　life　but　end　with　death？　Usually；　they　start　out　wishing　to　live　life　to　the　fullest；　so　they　sample　all　the　pleasures　of　the　material　world。　But　it　is　easy　to　overindulge　when　they　do　so；　and　soon　their　excessive　lifestyles　begin　to　take　a　heavy　toll　on　their　health　and　peace　of　mind。　Thus；　overindulgence　leads　them　toward　death。
  Nine　persons　out　of　ten　fit　in　one　of　the　three　categories　above：　fearful　living；　dangerous　living；　or　excessive　living。　The　rare　exception；　the　one…in…ten　minority；　is　the　type　of　person　who　can　transcend　the　predictable　patterns　that　most　people　fall　into。
  We've　heard　of　people　like　this；　who　are　good　at　cultivating　life。　They　enjoy　living　in　moderation；　they　do　not　shrink　from　the　unfamiliar；　at　the　same　time；　they　are　also　not　foolhardy。　They　are　the　skillful　players　…　not　spectators　…　in　the　game　of　life。　They　are　fully　engaged　and　fully　committed　in　their　interactions　with　others　and　the　world。
  Because　of　the　way　they　live；　they　do　not　encounter　dangerous　beasts　representing　the　hazards　of　daily　existence　as　they　travel　the　road　of　life。　When　they　wade　into　the　battlefield　of　social　competition；　they　are　not　harmed　by　the　many　weapons　wielded　by　soldiers；　representing　personal　attacks。
  Their　impeccable　conduct　leaves　no　room　for　others　to　hurt　them　with　vicious　rumors；　innuendoes　or　insinuations。　It　is　as　if　the　wild　rhinocerous　of　underhanded；　back…stabbing　tactics　cannot　find　a　place　to　thrust　its　deadly　horn。
  They　feel　no　need　to　defend　their　point　of　view；　nor　to　convince　or　persuade　others　of　the　correctness　of　their　perspective。　Thus；　the　tigers　of　blame；　criticism　and　petty　bickering　have　no　target　upon　which　to　use　their　lethal　claws。
  When　destructive　force　comes　their　way；　they　do　not　attempt　to　counter　it　head…on　with　equal　or　greater　force。　Instead；　they　expend　minimal　energy　and　redirect　it　away　from　themselves。　Thus；　the　swords　of　negativity　are　deflected　and　cannot　touch　them。
  How　can　they　deal　with　life　with　such　ease？　It　isn't　so　much　that　they　possess　toughness；　so　that　slings　and　arrows　bounce　off　them　and　outrageous　fortune　cannot　hurt　them。　Rather；　theirs　is　the　ability　to　transcend　fear；　risk；　and　excess　in　their　approach　to　life。　Their　mastery　of　living　simply　leaves　no　room　for　anything　that　is　negative　or　destructive。
  Notes
  Quite　a　few　translations　render　〃three　in　ten〃　as　one…third。　This　is　not　correct。　If　that　is　what　Lao　Tzu　wanted　to　express；　he　would　simply　say　〃one　in　three；〃　which　would　rule　out　any　possibility　of　confusion。
  The　fourth　category；　the　rare　one　person　out　of　ten；　is　not　specifically　stated；　only　implied。　As　a　result；　many　interpretations　miss　it　completely。　Now　that　you　have　seen　this　translation　and　know　what　you're　looking　for；　try　comparing　it　with　other　translations　and　you　should　be　able　to　see　it　more　clearly　than　before。
  51
  Tao　produces　them
  Virtue　raises　them
  Things　shape　them
  Forces　perfect　them
  Therefore　all　things　respect　the　Tao　and　value　virtue
  The　respect　for　Tao；　the　value　of　virtue
  Not　due　to　command　but　to　constant　nature
  Thus　Tao　produces　them
  Virtue　raises　them
  Grows　them；　educates　them
  Perfects　them；　matures　them
  Nurtures　them；　protects　them
  Produces　but　does　not　possess
  Acts　but　does　not　flaunt
  Nurtures　but　does　not　dominate
  This　is　called　mystic　virtue
  The　Tao　is　the　source　of　creation。　The　Tao　gives　birth　to　all　living　things。
  Virtue　raises　all　living　things。　In　other　words；　all　living　things　grow　and　develop　by　virtue　of　the　life　force　within　them。　Their　virtue　is　their　inherent　power　of　life；　which　is　an　essential　part　of　the　Tao。
  The　tangible　aspects　of　the　environment　shape　all　living　things。　The　physical　environment
  Therefore；　there　are　none　of　the　myriad　things　who　do　not　venerate　the　Tao
  or　esteem　itsvirtue。
  This　veneration　of　the　Tao　and　esteeming　of　its　virtue　is　something　they　do　naturally；　withoutbeing　forced。
  Therefore；　Tao　gives　birth。
  Its　virtue　rears；　develops；　raises；　adjusts　and　disciplines；
  Nourishes；　covers　and　protects；
  Produces　but　does　not　possess；
  Acts　without　expectation；
  Leads　without　forcing。
  This　is　called　〃Mysterious　Virtue。〃
  When　the　Tao　produces　and　its　energy　nourishes；
  nature　forms　and　natural　forces　establish。　On　this　account　there　is　nothing　that　does　not　honor　the　Tao　and　reverence　its　energy。　This　honor　and　reverence　are　spontaneous；　not　the　result　of　a　mandate。
  So　the　Tao　produces。　Its　energy　nourishes；　increases；　feeds；　establishes；　matures；　controls；　broods　over。
  It　produces；　but　keeps　nothing　for　itself；　acts；　but　does　not　depend　on　its　action；　increases；　but　does　not　insist　on　having　its　own　way。　This　indeed　is　the　mystery　of　energy。
  52
  The　world　has　a　beginning
  We　regard　it　as　the　mother　of　the　world
  Having　its　mother
  We　can　know　her　children
  Knowing　her　children
  Still　holding　on　to　the　mother
  Live　without　danger　all　through　life
  Close　the　mouth
  Shut　the　doors
  Live　without　toil　all　through　life
  Open　the　mouth
  Meddle　in　the　affairs
  Live　without　salvation　all　through　life
  Seeing　details　is　called　clarity
  Holding　on　to　the　soft　is　called　strength
  Utilize　the　light
  Return　to　the　clarity
  Leaving　no　disasters　for　the　self
  This　is　called　following　constancy
  53
  If　I　have　a　little　knowledge
  Walking　on　the　great　Tao
  I　fear　only　to　deviate　from　it
  The　great　Tao　is　broad　and　plain
  But　people　like　the　side　paths
  The　courts　are　corrupt
  The　fields　are　barren
  The　warehouses　are　empty
  Officials　wear　fineries
  Carry　sharp　swords
  Fill　up　on　drinks　and　food
  Acquire　excessive　wealth
  This　is　called　robbery
  It　is　not　the　Tao！
  54
  That　which　is　well　established　cannot　be　uprooted
  That　which　is　strongly　held　cannot　be　taken
  The　descendants　will　commemorate　it　forever
  Cultivate　it　in　yourself；　its　virtue　shall　be　true
  Cultivate　it　in　the　family；　its　virtue　shall　be　abundant
  Cultivate　it　in　the　community；　its　virtue　shall　be　lasting
  Cultivate　it　in　the　country；　its　virtue　shall　be　prosperous
  Cultivate　it　in　the　world；　its　virtue　shall　be　widespread
  Therefore　observe　others　with　yourself
  Observe　other　families　with　your　family
  Observe　other　communities　with　your　community
  Observe　other　countries　with　your　country
  Observe　the　world　with　the　world
  With　what　do　I　know　the　world？
  With　this
  The　well…established　cannot　be　uprooted。
  The　well…grasped　does　not　slip　away。
  Generation　after　generation　carries　out　the　ancestor　worship　without　break。
  Cultivate　it　in　yourself　and　virtue　will　be　real。
  Cultivate　it　in　the　family　and　virtue　will　overflow。
  Cultivate　it　in　the　town　and　virtue　will　be　great。
  Cultivate　it　in　the　country　and　virtue　will　abundant。
  Cultivate　it　in　the　world　and　virtue　will　be　everywhere。
  Therefore；　take　yourself　and　observe　yourself。
  Take　the　family　and　observe　the　family。
  Take　the　town　and　observe　the　town。
  Take　the　country　and　observe　the　country。
  Take　the　world　and　observe　the　world。
  How　do　I　know　the　world　as　it　is？
  By　this。
  Who　plants　well　will　not　have　his　work　uprooted；　who　embraces　well　will　not　lose　what　he　holds；
  the　offerings　of　his　sons　and　grandsons　will　never　end。
  Who　thus　regulates　himself　has　virtue　which　is　genuine；　who　thus　regulates　his　household　has　virtue　which　overflows；　who　thus　regulates　his　neighborhood　has　virtue　which　excels；　who　thus　regulates　the　state　has　virtue　which　abounds；　who　thus　regulates　the　world　has　virtue　which　is　universal。
  Therefore　let　every　man　prove　himself；　let　each　household；　neighborhood；　and　state　do　the　same；　let　the　world　also　follow　the　same　course。
  How　do　I　know　that　it　must　be　thus　with　the　world？　By　this　same　（which　has　been　just　said）。
  55
  Those　who　hold　an　abundance　of　virtue
  Are　similar　to　newborn　infants
  Poisonous　insects　do　not　sting　them
  Wild　beasts　do　not　claw　them
  Birds　of　prey　do　not　attack　them
  Their　bones　are　weak；　tendons　are　soft
  But　their　grasp　is　firm
  They　do　not　know　of　sexual　union　but　can　manifest　arousal
  Due　to　the　optimum　of　essence
  They　can　cry　the　whole　day　and　yet　not　be　hoarse
  Due　to　the　optimum　of　harmony
  Knowing　harmony　is　said　to　be　constancy
  Knowing　constancy　is　said　to　be　clarity
  Excessive　vitality　is　said　to　be　inauspicious
  Mind　overusing　energy　is　said　to　be　aggressive
  Things　become　strong　and　then　grow　old
  This　is　called　contrary　to　the　Tao
  That　which　is　contrary　to　the　Tao　will　soon　perish
  Tao　cultivators　wish　to　return　to　a　purer　and　simpler　state　of　mind。　It　is　a　state　full　of　bliss　and　grace。　We　have　all　experienced　it　as　infants；　but　have　forgotten　as　we　grew　up　and　became　more　and　more　affected　by　the　material　world。
  Infants　are　protected　from　danger。　Someone　who　has　cultivated　much　virtue　and　t