Original Text
Those who wish to govern the world by force will not succeed, for the world is a sacred vessel that cannot be manipulated or seized by subjective will. Those who act by force will fail; those who seize by force will lose. Therefore, the sage does not act arbitrarily and thus does not fail; does not seize and thus does not lose. People have diverse natures—some lead, some follow; some are gentle, some are hasty; some are strong, some are weak; some are secure, some are in danger. Hence, the wise person eliminates extremes, excess, and extravagance.
Guide
The world cannot be governed or controlled by force. If one relies on coercive measures to rule and hold onto the world, it will only lead to failure and eventual loss of the world. All things under heaven are diverse and distinct, operating according to the Way. What the sage must do is not to alter them through personal will, but to eliminate the extreme, excessive measures and actions that constrain them.Analysis
This chapter emphasizes the principle of non-action, which means acting in accordance with the laws of the Tao. Failure to practice non-action leads to defeat. The sage understands this, so he avoids excess in all things and follows nature. Here, Laozi uses the way of self-cultivation to illustrate the way of governance, contrasting the rule of the unenlightened with that of the sage. The unenlightened ruler, lacking the Tao, engages in excessive, extravagant, and extreme actions; the sage, enlightened by the Tao, eliminates excess, extravagance, and extremes.
"He who would take the world to act upon it, I see that he will not succeed." "Not succeed" means unable to achieve the goal. This sentence says that if one wants to govern the world but does not adopt the strategy of governing by non-action, I see that he will fundamentally fail to achieve his aim. Here, Laozi once again discusses "action" and "non-action." All things in nature have their own ways of existence. We cannot artificially interfere with their ways of existence, otherwise we will violate the Great Way and inevitably be punished by it. Therefore, Laozi repeatedly mentions in the Tao Te Ching that governing a country should be done through non-action, implementing teaching without words, only then can it align with the Great Way, ensuring long-term peace and stability for the country, allowing the people to live and work in peace and contentment, and securing the ruler's position for a long time.
"The greatest vessel under heaven cannot be made nor grasped. Those who try to make it will ruin it; those who try to grasp it will lose it." This means that the world is a miraculous creation of nature, so we should not forcibly alter it with subjective will. Forcing change with subjective will is bound to lead to failure; trying to possess and hold onto the world will inevitably result in losing it one day. This emphasizes the philosophy of non-action, teaching us that a ruler can not only resolve all internal conflicts within the state but also fully handle external disputes. Thus, while a ruler may guide the state to prosperity through diligence and love for the people, he may also cause its downfall through arbitrary decisions. According to Laozi, a ruler must never use the entire state as a tool to fulfill personal ambitions. He warns ambitious rulers: whoever gambles the state as a career will invite failure; whoever tries to permanently hold the state as personal property will lose the entire state. Therefore, a sage governs by striving to eliminate personal stubbornness, extravagance, and excessive behavior. The sage understands this principle and governs through non-action, thus avoiding failure; because the sage never seeks to dominate the people, there is nothing to lose. In this way, the world achieves great order.
"Some things go before, some follow; some are gentle, some are harsh; some are strong, some are weak; some are benefited, some are harmed." Gentle means slow in breath, referring to a mild temperament. Harsh means rapid in breath, referring to a fiery temperament. Among the things in the world, some lead, some lag; some are mild, some are fierce; some are robust, some are frail; some gain, some lose. If even things are like this, how much more so for people? As the saying goes, "a thousand people have a thousand faces," meaning each person has a unique appearance and, of course, distinct personality traits: some prefer to stand alone, others like to echo others; some are eager to help, others are harsh and unkind; some are brave and aggressive, others are timid and cowardly; some enjoy tranquility, others thrive in bustling crowds... Among the vast multitude, personalities vary. How should a sage govern the people of the world and ensure they submit to him? In the following passage, Laozi provides the answer.
Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complacency. Extremes refer to overly harsh measures. Laozi repeatedly emphasizes that rulers should follow the natural way, ensuring everyone lives and develops according to their own nature without interfering in individual behavior, thereby stabilizing people's hearts. Only when people's hearts are at peace can the ruler win the hearts of all, and then gain the world. Thus, when the sage governs the state, he discards all extremes and refrains from excessive actions. In this way, the people of the world can live freely and spontaneously.
In the Tao Te Ching, there are many passages discussing how rulers should practice the governance of non-action. Laozi strongly advocates for the governance of non-action, insisting that everything should follow nature and adapt to the inherent qualities of things, hoping that rulers will govern the country and pacify the people without going to extremes in any action. In fact, what Laozi means by "non-action" is not about doing nothing, nor does it imply that people are powerless in the face of objective reality; rather, it means that forcibly taking action or ruling the people through violence will lead to destruction. "Action" refers to imposing one's subjective will to violate objective laws or claiming the world as one's own possession. In Laozi's view, "action" inevitably leads to failure. In this world, whether people or things, each has its own nature, and their differences and particularities are objectively present; one should not impose one's will on others. Those who have attained the Tao often follow nature, avoiding force and harsh demands, guiding circumstances to align their actions with natural laws.