lipu Pona la: kasi nanpa 64 pi lipu Nasin Pona

其安易持		That which is at rest is easy to grasp.
其未兆易谋		That which has not yet come about is easy to plan for.
其脆易泮		That which is fragile is easily broken.
其微易散		That which is minute is easily scattered.
为之于未有		Handle things before they arise.
治之于未乱		Manage affairs before they are in a mess.
合抱之木生于毫末		A thick tree grows from a tiny seed.
九层之台起于累土		A tall building arises from a mound of earth.
千里之行始于足下		A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.
为者败之		Contriving, you are defeated;
执者失之		Grasping, you lose.
是以圣人无为故无败		The sage doesn’t contrive, so she isn’t beaten.
无执故无失		Not grasping, she doesn’t lose.
民之从事		When people are carrying out their projects
常于几成而败之		They usually blow it at the end.
慎终如始		If you are as careful at the end
		As you were at the beginning,
则无败事		You won’t be disappointed.
是以圣人欲不欲		Therefore the sage desires non-desire,
不贵难得之货		Does not value rare goods,
学不学		Studies the unlearnable
复众人之所过		So that she can correct the mistakes of average people
以辅万物之自然		And aid all things in manifesting their true nature
而不敢为		Without presuming to take the initiative.

Sitelen Sitelen Renderer by Olaf Janssen.

Acknowledgements / Notes