Chapter 63
IndexWhen it is at peace, it is easily maintained; when it has not yet manifested, it is easily planned for.
When it is brittle, it easily melts away; when it is subtle, it easily disperses.
Act on it before it exists; manage it before it becomes chaotic.
A tree that can fill the span of a man's arms grows from a tiny sprout; a tower of nine stories starts with a heap of earth; a journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet.
One who acts on it ruins it; one who grasps it loses it.
Therefore, the sage does not act, and so does not ruin; does not grasp, and so does not lose.
In people's undertakings, they often ruin things when they are on the verge of success.
Be as careful at the end as at the beginning, and there will be no failures. Thus the sage desires non-desire, does not value rare treasures, learns unlearning, returns to what the masses have passed by, and assists the natural course of all things without daring to act.