Follow us on Facebook to receive important updates Follow us on Twitter to receive important updates Follow us on sina.com's microblogging site to receive important updates Follow us on Douban to receive important updates
Chinese Text Project
Show translation:[None] [English]
Search details:
Scope: Dao De Jing Request type: Paragraph
Condition 1: References "天下神器,不可為也" Matched:1.
Total 1 paragraphs. Page 1 of 1.

道德經 - Dao De Jing

[Warring States (475 BC - 221 BC)] English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《道德經》 Library Resources
Source
Related resources
[Also known as: 《老子》, "Tao Te Ching", "Laozi"]

29 道德經:
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;或強或羸;或挫或隳。是以聖人去甚,去奢,去泰。
Dao De Jing:
(Taking no action)
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.

Total 1 paragraphs. Page 1 of 1.