二十九章
将欲取天下而为之，吾见其不得已。
天下神器，不可为也。
为者败之，执者失之。
物，或行或随，或嘘或吹，或强或羸，或挫或隳。
是以圣人去甚，去奢，去泰。
There are those who will conquer the world
And make of it (what they conceive or desire).
I see that they will not succeed.
(For) the world is God’s own Vessel
It cannot be made (by human interference).
He who makes it spoils it.
He who holds it loses it.
For: Some things go forward,
Some things follow behind;
some blow hot,
And some blow cold;
Some are strong,
And some are weak;
Some may break,
And some may fall.
Hence the Sage eschews excess, eschews extravagance,
Eschews pride.
