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64
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; that which
is brittle is easily broken; that which is very
small is easily dispersed. Action should be taken before a thing has
made
its appearance; order should be secured before disorder has
begun.
The tree which fills the arms
grew from the tiniest sprout; the
tower of nine storeys rose from a (small) heap of earth; the journey
of a thousand
li commenced with a single step.
He who acts (with an ulterior purpose) does harm; he who takes hold
of a thing
(in the same way) loses his hold. The sage does not act
(so), and therefore does no harm; he does not lay hold (so), and
therefore
does not lose his bold. (But) people in their conduct of
affairs are constantly ruining them when they are on the eve of
success.
If they were careful at the end, as (they should be) at the
beginning, they would not so ruin them.
Therefore
the sage desires what (other men) do not desire, and does
not prize things difficult to get; he learns what (other men)
do not
learn, and turns back to what the multitude of men have passed by.
Thus he helps the natural development of all
things, and does not dare
to act (with an ulterior purpose of his own).
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