Tao Te Ching Ch.29: The World Cannot Be Coerced

将jiāng欲yù取qǔ天tiān下xià而ér为wéi之zhī，吾wú见jiàn其qí不bù得dé已yǐ。

1If 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.

天tiān下xià神shén器qì，不bù可kě为wéi也yě，不bù可kě执zhí也yě。

2The kingdom is a spirit-like thing, and cannot be got by active doing.

为wéi者zhě败bài之zhī，执zhí者zhě失shī之zhī。

3He who would so win it destroys it; he who would hold it in his grasp loses it.

是shì以yǐ圣shèng人rén 无wú为wéi，故gù无wú败bài；无wú执zhí，故gù无wú失shī。

4The course and nature of things is such that What was in front is now behind; What warmed anon we freezing find.

夫fú物wù或huò行xíng或huò随suí；或huò歔xū或huò吹chuī；或huò强qiáng或huò羸léi；或huò挫cuò或huò隳huī。

5Strength is of weakness oft the spoil; The store in ruins mocks our toil.

是shì以yǐ圣shèng人rén去qù甚shèn，去qù奢shē，去qù泰tài。

6Hence the sage puts away excessive effort, extravagance, and easy indulgence.