Lao Tzu for Everyone
Students, Scholars
& Seekers
Peter Gilboy, Ph.D.
Line 5 物或行或隨
或炅或吹
或強或羸
或陪或撱
Line 6 是以聖人去甚
去大去諸
Tao
the Way
LESSON 29
Controlling
the World
It is not only dictators who are ambitious for control. Sincere and well-intentioned people can be just as ambitious for power, incorporating their many plans to “fix things up,” and make everything right.
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As for those who
want to take control
of the world
and act upon it . . .
. . . I see that they
cannot succeed.
For the world is
a sacred vessel
and not something
that can be acted upon.
Those who act upon the world
only destroy it,
and those who would
seized control of the world
only lose it.
When it comes to things
some go forth
and some follow,
some run hot
and some run cold,
some are strong
and some are weak,
some increase
and some decrease.
That is why the sage
avoids extremes,
avoids arrogance,
and avoids excess.
. . . . . . .