Daodejing Chapter 29: a spirit vessel

Seeking to take over
All-under-heaven
And control it
Cannot succeed.
All-under-heaven
Is a spirit vessel.
It cannot be controlled
Or held on to.
Any attempt to control it
Spoils it.
Any attempt to hold on to it
Loses it.
Some go ahead,
Some follow behind.
Some breathe gently,
Some blow hard.
Some are strong,
Some are weak.
Some cultivate,
Some destroy.
The sage avoids
Excess,
Extravagance,
Extremes.

「將欲取天下而為之，吾見其不得已。天下神器，不可為也，不可執也。為者敗之，執者失之。故物或行或隨，或歔或吹，或強或羸，或載或隳。是以聖人去甚、去奢、去泰。」

Beware of the dictator or revolutionary who wants to take over the world. No matter whether they have good or bad intentions, they are doomed to failure because the world is a “spirit vessel” that can never be controlled by anyone.

Chapter 29 of the Daodejing is targeted at the political class of Laozi’s times, and warns it against taking draconian measures to enforce its will over the common people. The only way a ruler can hope to successfully lead their realm is by understanding the different needs of the people and catering to them.

The passage also connects on a personal level as well. The more you try to force something, the less chance you have of succeeding in it. Be yourself and go at your natural pace. Let others do the same.

Note
I took this image at Longhu (Dragon Tiger) Mountain, a famous Daoist site about ten miles south of Yingtan in Jiangxi Province. A great place to visit!