A great state is like a low-lying stream. To govern a great state, one should act as a low-lying stream and not resist the small or subtle things. The meeting place of all under heaven. A great state is where the scholars, officials, and people from throughout the world congregate. It is the receptive female of all under heaven. A pin refers to a yin-like entity; it represents receptivity and passivity. it is soft, humble, harmonious yet not flourishing. The receptive often overcomes the assertive through stillness. A woman can thus subdue a man, yin overcoming yang, because she remains calm and does not seek first. Stillness is the way of being lowly. The yin principle takes quietude as humility and submissiveness. Therefore, when a great state acts with humility toward a small state, it gains the small state's allegiance. If one can be humble and lowly, then one will always possess it. When a small state acts with humility toward a great state, it also gains the favor of the great state. This means that regardless of size, if a nation maintains humility and nurtures its people, it will have no mistakes or failures. Therefore, sometimes one acts humbly to gain something, and at other times, by being humble, one is given something. Acting humbly refers to the great state acting with humility toward the small state, and the small state acting with humility toward the great state; they mutually gain each other through righteousness. A great state has no greater desire than to encompass and nurture the people. If a great state does not lose its humility, it will annex small states and shepherd them as livestock. A small state has no greater wish than to submit and serve others. To make them subjects or servants. If both the great and small states achieve their desires, then the greater one should be willing to act in a lowly manner. Both the great state and the small state desire what they want; the great state should especially be humble and lowly.