29-1
将欲取天下而为之，吾见其不得已。天下神器，不可为也，为者败之，执者失之。故物或行或随；或歔或吹；或强或羸；或挫或隳。是以圣人去甚，去奢，去泰。
If any one should wish to get the kingdom for himself, and to effect this by what he does, I see that he will not succeed. The kingdom is a spirit-like thing, and cannot be got by active doing. He who would so win it destroys it; he who would hold it in his grasp loses it. The course and nature of things is such that What was in front is now behind; What warmed anon we freezing find. Strength is of weakness oft the spoil; The store in ruins mocks our toil. Hence the sage puts away excessive effort, extravagance, and easy indulgence.