Best of Taoism – The world is a sacred place

Some people want to win the world by changing it; they always come to grief. The world is a sacred object. Nothing should be done to change it; any attempt to change it is bound to damage it. To try and possess the world, and treat it as your own, is to lose it.

Under heaven some people lead, and some follow. Some are gentle, and some are hard. Some are hot with passion and some are cool. Some are strong, and some are weak. Some succeed in what they do, and some fail.

Wise people steer a middle course between extremes. They can lead or follow, as circumstances require. They can be gentle or hard, as circumstances require. They can be hot or cool, as circumstances require. They can be strong or weak, as circumstances require. And they make no distinction between success and failure.