Chapter LXVII
(Chapter 67)

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Ko Yuen Translation

The Three Jewels
1. They say that while this Tao of mine is great, yet it is inferior.  This is the proof of its greatness.  If it were like anything else, its smallness would have long been known.
2. I have three jewels of price whereto I cleave; gentleness, economy, and humility.
3. That gentleness maketh me courageous, that economy generous, that humility honoured.  Men of today abandon gentleness for violence, economy for extravagance, humility for pride:  this is death.
4. Gentleness bringeth victory in fight; and holdeth its ground with assurance.  Heaven wardeth the gentle man by that same virtue.

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S. Mitchell Translation
Some say that my teaching is nonsense.
Others call it lofty but impractical.
But to those who have looked inside themselves,
this nonsense makes perfect sense.
And to those who put it into practice,
this loftiness has roots that go deep.

I have just three things to teach:
simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and in thoughts,
you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.

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James Legge Translation
1. All the world says that, while my Tao is great, it yet appears to be inferior (to other systems of teaching).  Now it is just its greatness that makes it seem to be inferior.  If it were like any other (system), for long would its smallness have been known!
2. But I have three precious things which I prize and hold fast.  The first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking from taking precedence of others.
3. With that gentleness I can be bold; with that economy I can be liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, I can become a vessel of the highest honour.  Now-a-days they give up gentleness and are all for being bold; economy, and are all for being liberal; the hindmost place, and seek only to be foremost; (of all which the end is) death.
4. Gentleness is sure to be victorious even in battle, and firmly to maintain its ground.  Heaven will save its possessor, by his (very) gentleness protecting him.

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GNL not Lao Interpolation

Unimportance
All the world says,
"I am important;
I am separate from all the world.
I am important because I am separate,
Were I the same, I could never be important."

Yet here are three treasures
That I cherish and commend to you:
The first is compassion,
By which one finds courage.
The second is restraint,
By which one finds strength.
And the third is unimportance,
By which one finds influence.

Those who are fearless, but without compassion,
Powerful, but without restraint,
Or influential, yet important,
Cannot endure.

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