Chapter 60
治大国
治大国，
若烹小鲜。
以道莅天下，
其鬼不神；
非其鬼不神，
其神不伤人；
非其神不伤人，
圣人亦不伤人。
夫两不相伤，
故德交归焉。
a> Governing a large state is like cooking a small fish.
b> When one approaches governing the world by means of the Dao, ghosts will have no potency. It is not that they have no potency, but that their potency will not harm people, It is not that their potency will not harm people, but that the sage too will not harm people. These two will do no mutual harm, and therein will virtue (de) commingle and return.
A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.
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