Tao-1, Chapter 64
Quick Answer
This is Tao-1, chapter 64, a sacred text in the Taoism tradition. You can read it here verse by verse for free, listen to it read aloud, and follow cross-references that connect its themes to other traditions.
1
What is rooted is easy to nourish.
2
What is recent is easy to correct.
3
What is brittle is easy to break.
4
What is small is easy to scatter.
5
Prevent trouble before it arises.
6
Put things in order before they exist.
7
The giant pine tree grows from a tiny sprout.
8
The journey of a thousand miles starts from beneath your feet.
9
Rushing into action, you fail.
10
Trying to grasp things, you lose them.
11
Forcing a project to completion,
12
you ruin what was almost ripe.