評論
打印
Chapter 64
第六十四章
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;
其安易持，其未兆易謀；
that which is brittle is easily broken; that which is very small is easily dispersed.
其脆易泮，其微易散。
Action should be taken before a thing has made its appearance; order should be secured before disorder has begun.
為之于未有，治之于未亂。
The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout;
合抱之木，生于毫末；
the tower of nine storeys rose from a (small) heap of earth;
九層之臺，起于累土；
the journey of a thousand li commenced with a single step.
千里之行，始于足下。
He who acts (with an ulterior purpose) does harm; he who takes hold of a thing (in the same way) loses his hold.
為者敗之，執(zhí)者失之。
The sage does not act (so), and therefore does no harm; he does not lay hold (so), and therefore does not lose his hold.
是以圣人無為故無敗，無執(zhí)故無失。
(But) people in their conduct of affairs are constantly ruining them when they are on the eve of success.
民之從事，常于幾成而敗之。
If they were careful at the end, as (they should be) at the beginning, they would not so ruin them.
慎終如始，則無敗事。
Therefore the sage desires what (other men) do not desire, and does not prize things difficult to get;
是以圣人欲不欲，不貴難得之貨，
he learns what (other men) do not learn, and turns back to what the multitude of men have passed by.
學不學，復眾人之所過，
Thus he helps the natural development of all things, and does not dare to act (with an ulterior purpose of his own).
以輔萬物之自然而不敢為。
