13 December 2023

Not-doing




[One who] is going to desire to take the empire and to make it.
I see him not obtain it;
that is all.
The empire [is] a divine vessel.
Not can it be made, indeed.
[Who] makes it, the one, mars it.

[Who] takes hold of it, the one loses it.
Therefore of beings some go on, others follow,
some breathe warmly, others breathe coldly,
some [are] strong, others [are] weak,
some succeed [are filled with a cargo] others succumb [come out vanquished].

Therefore the holy man abandons pleasures abandons extravagance, abandons indulgence.



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