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Fifty-eight

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When the country is ruled with a light hand
The people are simple.
When the country is ruled with severity
The people are cunning.

Happiness is rooted in misery and misery lurks beneath happiness.
And who knows what the future will bring?
Thus there is no honesty,
Goodness becomes witchcraft
And humanity's bewilderment lasts a long time.

Therefore a sound person is
Sharp, but not cutting,
Pointed, but not piercing,
Straightforward, but not unconstrained,
Brilliant, but not blinding.



Henry Meyerding 2007-01-27