Consider That Which is Insignificant
May 29, 2021
That which is still and at rest is easily kept quiet...
That which has not yet appeared is easily prevented.
What is still feeble and weak is easily broken.
What is still deficient is easily dispersed.
Treat things before they exist.
Regulate things before disorder begins.
The strong tree originated from a tiny root.
A tower of nine stories is built up brick by brick.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single footstep.
If one tries to improve a thing, one damages it;
if one grasps it, they lose it.
The wise one, therefore, not attempting to form things does not damage them, and not grasping after things, they do not lose them.
The people in their rush for completing a task are ever approaching success,
but continually failing.
One must be as careful in the end as in the beginning if they are to succeed.
Therefore the wise one desires to be free from desire,
they do not value the things that are difficult to attain.