Tao Te Ching Chapter 29

The Original Chinese Text

将欲取天下而为之，吾见其不得已。天下神器，不可为也，为者败之，执者失之。故物或行或随；或歔或吹；或强或赢；或挫或隳。是以圣人去甚，去奢，去泰。

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 often the spoil; 
The store in ruins mocks our toil. 
Hence the sage puts away excessive effort, extravagance, and easy indulgence.

【译文】想要治理天下却采取”为”的办法，我看他是不能够达到目的的。天下是有灵性的器物，不能够采取“为”的措施，为者会毁坏它，执者会失去它。因为世间万物秉性不一，有的行于前、有的随于后，有的出气缓、有的出气急，有的刚强、有的羸弱，有的挫顿、有的隳突。因此，圣人要除去那种极端、奢侈的、过度的措施法度。

Translation:
To govern the world by taking "action" (interfering arbitrarily), I see that such a person cannot achieve their goal. The world is a spiritual vessel that cannot be governed through "action"—those who act arbitrarily will destroy it, and those who cling to control will lose it. For all things in the world have different natures: some lead, some follow; some breathe slowly, some rapidly; some are strong, some weak; some are subdued, some rampant. Therefore, the sage discards extreme, extravagant, and excessive measures and laws.

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