A Natural State

Translation by Tree Buffalo


Peaceful things are easy to maintain.

Un-manifested things are easy to prevent.

Brittle things are easy to break.

Small things are easy to scatter.

Act on these things before they exist.

Govern these things before the chaos.

Because a giant tree grows from a tiny seed;

a tall tower rises from a dirt floor;

and a journey of a thousand li* begins beneath one’s feet.

But those who would act on things, ruin them.

And those who would grasp for things, lose them.

This is why the wise person does not act and therefore has nothing to ruin.

They do not grasp and therefore have nothing to lose.

Often, when people are near success in worldly affairs, they fail.

If they were as careful in the end as they were in the beginning, their worldly affairs would not fail.

This is why the wise person desires no desire, and does not value rare treasures.

They learn to not learn, and restore what other people pass by.

This is how to help everything find a natural state without daring to act on them.


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*Li = two kilometers.

Read some of the first English translations of Chapter 64 here.

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