Do you think that you can take the world in hand and improve it?
I do not believe it can be done.
The world is Tao’s own vessel.
You cannot control it.
If you try to change it, you will ruin it.
If you try to cling to it, you will lose it.
So sometimes things move forward, and sometimes not;
Sometimes breathing is hard, and sometimes easy;
Sometimes we find strength, and sometimes weakness;
Sometimes we are up, and sometimes down.
Thus the sage avoids extremes, excesses, arrogance.
(Adapted from several translations)