Singapore time 8.14 am 6th July 2008Thing that is peaceful is easy to hold; given no omen, it is easy to plan. Its softness is easy to melt. Its smallness is easy to scatter. Do to it before it having possession; cure it before confusion sets in. Tree trunk you can hug with both hands grows from a minuscule sprout. Nine storied terrace was built from the ground. A thousand li journey starts from a foot forward. Doing it spoils it; grabbing it misses it.
So the Sage refrains from doing so doesn't spoil anything, he grabs nothing so never misses anything. People when doing work, always fail by a few steps. Careful of the ending as per the beginning, however has no failure.
Therefore, the Sage wants the unwanted things, does not value things that are hard to get. He studies what others dislike, reverts the wrongs of the people. His object is to restore everything to its natural course, but he does no action to that end.
3 Chinese texts versions are different. I am sad to see this. Some Chinese are idiots to alter the texts.
為者敗之○執者失之○是以聖人無為故無敗○無執故無失○
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○
The message here is mainly for the Sage King. So how can you relate with 'His object is to restore everything to its natural course'? If you are not the Sage King, can you understand what it is trying to say ? The stress here is also on inaction or 'wu wei'. Inaction is actually action of self cultivation with no aim.
Like if I want to be the president of Singapore, I do not have to stand for election, which will bar me for disqualification. When the time is ripe, Singaporeans will appoint me as president.
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