Chapter 49

The sage has no fixed mind of his own; he takes the mind of the people as his own.

To those who are good to me, I am good; and to those who are not good to me, I am also good—and so all become good. To those who are sincere with me, I am sincere; and to those who are not sincere with me, I am also sincere—and so all become sincere.

In the world, the sage appears hesitant, and keeps his mind detached toward everything. The people all turn their eyes and ears to him, and he treats them all as his children.