To be without De is to take charge of taking away from others. The Way of heaven, while without favor, Is always with virtuous people. ♦Harmonize a great resentment, ♦And there must exist some remaining resentment. ♦How can this be considered2 good? ♦Thus2 the sage2 : Holds the left sideA of an agreement, But does not demand [payment] of people. Therefore : to have De is to take charge of your agreements; ♦To be without De is to take charge of taking away from others. ♦The Way of heaven, while without favor, ♦Is always [together]with virtuous people.B Notes The point of the beginning of this chapter seems to be that the sage does not create resentments in the first place A : Lau says that the left side of a contract or agreement was the creditor’s side, so the sage is the one who is owed B : Hatcher points out that while the Way of heaven itself is without favor, virtuous people have aligned themselves with it (because of their virtue), hence it is “with” them Cross-references Way of heaven : #9, #47, #73, #77, #81 Chapter Eighty • 小 國 寡 民 使 有 什 伯 之 器 而 不 用 • 使 民 重 死 而 不 遠 徙 雖 有 舟 輿 無 所 乘 之 雖 有 甲 兵 無 所 陳 之 使 (民) 復 結 繩 而 用 之 甘 其 食 美 其 服 安 其 居 樂 其 俗 鄰 國 相 望 雞 犬 之 聲 相 聞 民 至 老 死 不 相 往 來 In a small nation with few citizens : Ensure that it has the weapons of ten nobles, but does not use them. Ensure that the citizens take death seriously, and do not migrate far. Even though they have boats and carriages, there is no place to take advantage of them. Even though they have armor and weapons, there is no place to display them. Ensure that the citizens return to knotting ropes and using them, Find deliciousness in their food, Beauty in their clothes, Contentment in their dwellings, Happiness in their customs. Although neighboring nations overlook one another, And sounds of roosters and dogs can be heard in one another – The citizens reach old age and die, And do not come and go between one another. ♦In a small nation with few citizens : Ensure that it has the weaponsA of ten noblesB, but does not use them. [make,cause] [tools] [Count] Ensure that the citizens take death seriously, and do not migrate far. [make,cause] Even though they have boats and carriages, there is no place to take advantage of them.C Even though they have armor and weapons, there is no place to display them.D