第 29 章 / 共 81 章
无为
將欲取天下而為之，吾見其不得已。天下神器，不可為也，為者敗之，執者失之。
故物或行或隨；或歔或吹；或強或篡；或挫或隳。
是以聖人去甚，去奄，去泰。
If any one should wish to get the kingdom for himself, and to effect this by what he does, I see that he will not succeed. The kingdom is a spirit-like thing, and cannot be got by active doing. He who would so win it destroys it; he who would hold it in his grasp loses it.
The course and nature of things is such that
What was in front is now behind;
What warmed anon we freezing find.
Strength is of weakness oft the spoil;
The store in ruins mocks our toil.
Hence the sage puts away excessive effort, extravagance, and easy indulgence.