1. that which is at rest is easily kept hold of; before a thing has given indications of its presence, it is easy to take measures against it; that which is brittle is easily broken; that which is very small is easily dispersed. action should be taken before a thing has made its appearance; order should be secured before disorder has begun.

2. the tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout; the tower of nine storeys rose from a (small) heap of earth; the journey of a thousand li commenced with a single step.

3. he who acts (with an ulterior purpose) does harm; he who takes hold of a thing (in the same way) loses his hold. the sage does not act (so), and therefore does no harm; he does not lay hold (so), and therefore does not lose his bold. (but) people in their conduct of affairs are constantly ruining them when they are on the eve of success. if they were careful at the end, as (they should be) at the beginning, they would not so ruin them.

4. therefore the sage desires what (other men) do not desire, and does not prize things difficult to get; he learns what (other men) do not learn, and turns back to what the multitude of men have passed by. thus he helps the natural development of all things, and does not dare to act (with an ulterior purpose of his own).

其安易持，其未兆易谋；

其脆易泮，其微易散。

为之于未有，治之于未乱。

合抱之木，生于毫末；

九层之台，起于垒土；

千里之行，始于足下。

为者败之，执者失之。

是以圣人无为故无败，无执故无失。

民之从事，常于几成而败之。

慎终如始，则无败事。

是以圣人欲不欲，不贵难得之货；

学不学，复众人之所过。

以辅万物之自然而不敢为。

【译文】

局面安定时容易维持，情势未明朗时容易图谋，事物脆弱时容易消解，事物微小时容易散失。要在事情未开始时就有所打算，要在祸乱未发作之前就早作预防。

合抱的大树，长成于细小的萌芽；九层的高台，堆垒于土坯；千里的远行，开始于脚下。对于这些渐进的过程，如果妄逞权能而揠苗助长，就会导致失败；如果执意于某一情态而加抗拒，就会反而使局面失去控制。因此，圣人不妄逞权能，所以不会失败；不抗拒渐进的演变，所以不会使局面失控。人们做事，常在接近成功的时候失败，慎终如慎始，就不会有败事。因此，圣人要别人之所不要，不使稀贵资源的供应更形紧张；学别人之所不学，以便牵正人们的偏激过失。借此以辅导万物行于其自然而不强加干涉。