All under heaven say my Dao is great, as if it were not like anything. Laozi said: All under heaven say my virtue is great; I then pretend to be foolish, as if not capable. It is precisely because it is great that it seems unlike anything; only those whose virtue and merit are great bring harm to themselves, so they pretend to be foolish as if not capable. there is no distinction, no division, and no degrading others while holding oneself responsible. If it were like something, it would have been so for a long time. Xiao, good. It means discerning and wise. If a person of great discernment and wisdom, with lofty stature and self-regard, has long followed the path of meticulous governance. How minute it is! Those who are discerning and wise are like petty people, not the kind of magnanimous individuals. I have three treasures; hold on to them and preserve them. Laozi said: I have three treasures, embrace and rely upon them for protection. One is compassion; love the people as one would a newborn child. Two is frugality; levy taxes and collect resources as if taking them from oneself. Three is not daring to be first in the world. Maintain humility and retreat, do not take the initiative or lead.

Compassion thus enables bravery; because of kindness and benevolence, one can be brave in loyalty and filial piety. loin Frugality thus enables breadth; if the Son of Heaven himself practices thrift, then the people's daily use becomes abundant. Not daring to be first in the world, not being the first in all under heaven. Thus one can become a leader among things. Becoming a leader, means becoming a person who has attained the Dao. I can become the leader of those who have attained the Dao. Now, abandoning compassion and seeking only bravery; nowadays people abandon kindness and benevolence and pursue only valor and martial prowess. Abandoning frugality for breadth; abandoning thrift and restraint, but pursuing luxury and indulgence. Abandoning humility to be first; abandoning the placing of oneself after others, but seeking to lead others. This leads to death! If one acts in this way, every action will lead into a place of death. Compassion used in battle brings victory; used for defense ensures stability. Those who are kind and compassionate, the people will be close and loyal, united in heart and mind; thus, when waging war they defeat the enemy, and when defending, their position is secure. Heaven will rescue them, using compassion to protect them. When Heaven is about to assist and save the good people, it must endow them with a nature of kindness and compassion, enabling them to help themselves. ---