1. 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.

2. 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 oft the spoil;

the store in ruins mocks our toil. hence the sage puts away excessive effort, extravagance, and easy indulgence.

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，或强或羸，或载或隳。

是以圣人去甚，去奢，去泰。

【译文】

想要把天下抓来任意摆弄的，我看他永远也达不成目的。天下是神圣的存在，是不可以任意摆弄的。任意摆弄就会败坏它，紧抓不放就会失去它。所以，各类存在可以任之独行，也可以任之从随；可以任之恬柔轻嘘，也可以任之迅猛疾吹；可以任之强盛，也可以任之衰颓；可以任之安稳，也可以任之毁灭。因此，圣人戒出手过分，戒自奉过奢，戒行走极端。