Line by Line - Verse 61, Lines 14-15

Each gets what it desires, but the great state must learn to abase itself.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Each gets what it wants.
It is fitting for a great nation to yield.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

So that both obtain what they wish
The larger one should assume the lower position
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

So if you want to get ahead,
lay low and bide your time.
That way, everybody's happy.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

As we have done many times before, let's see how Derek Lin sums up these two lines.

When we apply this idea to the individual level, we see the wisdom of treating people well on one's way up, because it is indeed true that one will see all of them again on one's way down.

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