《道德經》第六十四章

其安易持，其未兆易謀。
其脆易泮，其微易散。
為之於未有，治之於未亂。
合抱之木，生於毫末；九層之臺，起於累土；

千里之行，始於足下。

為者敗之，執者失之。
民之從事，常於幾成而敗之。
慎終如始，則無敗事，是以聖人欲不欲，不貴難得之貨；
學不學，復衆人之所過，以輔萬物之自然，而不敢為。

是以聖人無為故無敗；無執故無失。

Dao De Jing Chapter 64 ― A. Charles Muller

64. That which is at rest is easy to grasp...

That which is at rest is easy to grasp.
That which has not yet come about is easy to plan for.
That which is fragile is easily broken.
That which is minute is easily scattered.
Handle things before they arise.
Manage affairs before they are in a mess.
A thick tree grows from a tiny seed.
A tall building arises from a mound of earth.
A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.
Contriving, you are defeated;
Grasping, you lose.
The sage doesn't contrive, so she isn't beaten.
Not grasping, she doesn't lose.
When people are carrying out their projects
They usually blow it at the end.
If you are as careful at the end
As you were at the beginning,
You won't be disappointed.
Therefore the sage desires non-desire,
Does not value rare goods,
Studies the unlearnable
So that she can correct the mistakes of average people
And aid all things in manifesting their true nature
Without presuming to take the initiative.

Dao De Jing Chapter 64 ― Arthur Waley

“What stays still is easy to hold;

Before there has been an omen it is easy to lay plans.

What is tender is easily torn,

What is minute is easy to scatter.”

Deal with things in their state of not-yet-being,

Put them in order before they have got into confusion.

For “the tree big as a man's embrace began as a tiny sprout,

The tower nine storeys high began with a heap of earth,

The journey of a thousand leagues began with what was under the feet”.

He who acts harms; he who grabs lets slip.

Therefore the Sage does not act, and so does not harm;

Does not grab, and so does not let slip.

Whereas the people of the world, at their tasks,

Constantly spoil things when within an ace of completing them.

“Heed the end no less than the beginning,”

And your work will not be spoiled.

Therefore the Sage wants only things that are unwanted,

Sets no store by products difficult to get,

And so teaches things untaught,

Turning all men back to the things they have left behind,

That the ten thousand creatures may be restored to their Self-so.

This he does, but dare not act.

Dao De Jing Chapter 64 ― James Legge

(Guarding the minute)

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).