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That which is content is easy to hold.
That which does not manifest easily is a scheme.
That which is delicate is easy to dissolve.
That which is mysterious is easy to disperse.
Practice and do not possess.
Govern through not creating discord.
Join and embrace a tree as it grows from a tiny seedling.
A tower of nine stories rises from the Earth.
A thousand li* journey begins when you are sufficiently connected to the Earth.
Those who do, destroy.
Those who seize, lose.
The sages practice not doing (wu wei) and do not destroy.
They do not seize and they do not lose.
The people pursue their worldly affairs, and are often near success, and yet they fail.
When they are as careful to the end as they are in the beginning they will not fail in their worldly affairs.
The sages desires are not deep-seated desires.
They do not value difficult-to-obtain treasures.
They study not studying.
They can help ten-thousand things (everything) naturally and do not venture to act.
*Li=1/3 mile |
