Keeping to the Small

"That which is at rest is easily held. That which has not yet appeared is easily provided against. That which is brittle is easily broken. That which is minute is easily dispersed. Manage your business before it exists (takes form). Begin to regulate before the disorder comes. The tree that fills the arms grew from a slender twig. The castle of nine stories was raised from a mound of earth. The journey of a thousand miles commenced with one pace. He that makes mars. He that grasps loses. The sage makes nothing, therefore he mars nothing. He grasps nothing, therefore he loses nothing. People undertake things, and always fail when they are on the point of succeeding. If they were as careful of the end as they usually are of the beginning there would be no failures. Therefore the sage is ambitious of no ambition; and he does not prize things difficult to get. He learns no learning; and only reverts to what others have passed over; his aim being to promote spontaneity in all things, while he dares not act (upon them)."