道廿九 - Tao Chapter 29

将欲取天下而为之 吾见其弗得已

夫天下神器也 非可为者也 为者败之 执者失之

物或行 或隋 或炅 或吹 或强 或锉 或坏 或撱

是以圣人去甚 去大 去楮

所作所为都是为了要夺取天下，我认为这样的事是没有尽头（无法究竟）的。“天下”是通达万物的器物，是不会被（个体或团体）有意识的影响的。 试图去影响“天下”的行为其实会破坏平衡，会败坏祂；自认为拥有祂（而尝试控制祂）的，其实已经失去祂了。 天下万物，物性各有不同。有的多动，有的懈怠；有的光彩夺目，有的煽风点火；有的强健，有的折伤；有的还是胚胎（未烧过的砖瓦陶器），有的已经被抛弃了。 所以通达事理的人不做过分的事情，不做高大全的事情，不做极端侵占的事情。 （亳有祥桑榖共生于朝，一暮大拱）

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The aim of all actions is to conquer the world, but I believe such a thing is endless. "The world" is a tool that encompasses everything, and it cannot be consciously influenced by individuals or groups.

Attempts to influence the "world" actually disrupt the balance and damage it. Those who think they possess and try to control it, in fact, have already lost it.

All things in the world have different characteristics. Some are active, some are lazy; some are dazzling, some are flammable; some are strong, some are broken; some are still embryos, some have been abandoned. Therefore, those who understand the principles do not do excessive things, do not do perfect things, and do not do extreme and invasive things.