Tao cannot be forcibly intervened

Those who seek to take the world and control it

I see that they will not succeed.

The world is a sacred vessel,

not to be manipulated.

Those who manipulate it will fail;

those who grasp it will lose it.

All things in the world:

some move forward, some follow behind;

some breathe gently, some blow fiercely;

some are strong, some are weak;

some are secure, some are destroyed.

Therefore, the sage avoids extremes,

extravagance, and excess.

(This chapter criticizes forceful intervention and control. Laozi teaches that the world is sacred and cannot be governed through coercion. All things follow their natural laws, and attempts to force outcomes will lead to failure. The sage aligns with nature, rejecting extremes and excess to maintain harmony and balance.)

Key Concepts:

天下神器 (tiān xià shén qì) – “the world is a sacred vessel” (the world as a divine and delicate entity).

去甚、去奢、去泰 (qù shèn, qù shē, qù tài) – “avoid extremes, extravagance, and excess” (the sage’s rejection of imbalance).

不可为 (bù kě wéi) – “not to be manipulated” (the futility of forcing outcomes).

Core Philosophy:

Laozi warns against the dangers of trying to control the world through force or manipulation. Such actions disrupt the natural order and lead to failure. Instead, the sage embraces moderation and aligns with the natural flow of things, ensuring harmony and balance. This chapter emphasizes the importance of humility and restraint in governance and life.