What is minute is easy to scatter. [it] ♦Act on it while it does not yet exist. [<preposition>] ♦Govern them while they are not yet confused. [<preposition>] ♦A tree [ß] too big to embrace2 is created from the tiniest shoot. [least] [tip,end] A terraceA of nine stories rises from a pile of dirt. [soil,land,ground] A journey of a thousand milesB begins from under the feet. [travel] ♦He who acts, ruins it. ♦He who grasps, loses it. ♦Thus2 the sage2 : ♦Does not act, therefore he does not ruin. ♦Does not grasp, therefore he does not lose. Citizens are always on the verge of achieving their undertakings2, yet they ruin them. [almost] Be as careful in the end as if it was the beginning, Then you will not ruin your affairs. ♦Thus2 the sage2 : ♦Desires to not desire, ♦Does not value rare2 [à] goods, ♦Learns to not learn. He returns to that which everyone2 else [they] has passed over, Thus helping the ten thousand creatures [them] to be naturally so2, Yet not daring to act.C Notes A : in ancient China, terraces were man-made hills with paths cut into in their sides, leading up to a plateau at the top from which to view the surrounding landscape B : around the time the DDJ was written, a 里 was probably equal to about 1/3 of a mile C : this line is intentionally left ambiguous as to whether it is the sage or the creatures that do not dare to act, as it is also ambiguous in the original Chinese Cross-references he who acts, ruins it : #29 he who grasps, loses it : #29 non-action : #2, #3, #37, #38, #43, #48, #57, #63 rare goods : #3, #12 returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #34, #40, #52, #58, #60, #65, #80 naturally so : #17, #23, #25, #51 not daring to act : #3, #67, #69 Chapter Sixty Five 古 之 善 為 道 者 非 以 明 民 • 將 以 愚 之 • 民 之 難 治 • 以 其 (知) 多 • (•)故 以 (知) 治 國 國 之 賊 • 不 以 (知) 治 國 國 之 福 • 知 此 兩 者亦 稽 式 • 常 知 稽 式 是 謂 玄 德 玄 德 深 矣 遠 矣(•) 與 物 反 矣(•) __ __ 乃 至 大 順 The virtue of the ancients (they who acted in Dao), Did not use it to enlighten the citizens, But would have used it to keep them ignorant – The citizens are hard to govern Because they have too much knowledge. Therefore : using knowledge to govern the nation Is the bane of the nation. Not using knowledge to govern the nation