{
  "meta": {
    "schema_version": "1.1",
    "endpoint": "/api/sources/tao-te-ching/61-chapter-61.json"
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  "work": {
    "slug": "tao-te-ching",
    "name": "Tao Te Ching"
  },
  "parents": [],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 61,
    "slug": "61-chapter-61",
    "title": "Chapter 61 — The Great State as Low Ground",
    "of": 81,
    "words": 142,
    "text": "## Chapter 61\n\n\nWhat makes a great state is its being (like) a low-lying, down-\nflowing (stream);--it becomes the centre to which tend (all the small\nstates) under heaven.\n\n(To illustrate from) the case of all females:--the female always\novercomes the male by her stillness. Stillness may be considered (a\nsort of) abasement.\n\nThus it is that a great state, by condescending to small states,\ngains them for itself; and that small states, by abasing themselves to\na great state, win it over to them. In the one case the abasement\nleads to gaining adherents, in the other case to procuring favour.\n\nThe great state only wishes to unite men together and nourish them;\na small state only wishes to be received by, and to serve, the other.\nEach gets what it desires, but the great state must learn to abase\nitself.",
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    "license": null,
    "methodology_url": null
  }
}