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    "endpoint": "/api/sources/tao-te-ching/64-chapter-64.json"
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  "work": {
    "slug": "tao-te-ching",
    "name": "Tao Te Ching"
  },
  "parents": [],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 64,
    "slug": "64-chapter-64",
    "title": "Chapter 64 — Beginnings",
    "of": 81,
    "words": 244,
    "text": "## Chapter 64\n\n\nThat which is at rest is easily kept hold of; before a thing\nhas given indications of its presence, it is easy to take measures\nagainst it; that which is brittle is easily broken; that which is very\nsmall is easily dispersed. Action should be taken before a thing has\nmade its appearance; order should be secured before disorder has\nbegun.\n\nThe tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout; the\ntower of nine storeys rose from a (small) heap of earth; the journey\nof a thousand li commenced with a single step.\n\nHe who acts (with an ulterior purpose) does harm; he who takes hold\nof a thing (in the same way) loses his hold. The sage does not act\n(so), and therefore does no harm; he does not lay hold (so), and\ntherefore does not lose his bold. (But) people in their conduct of\naffairs are constantly ruining them when they are on the eve of\nsuccess. If they were careful at the end, as (they should be) at the\nbeginning, they would not so ruin them.\n\nTherefore the sage desires what (other men) do not desire, and does\nnot prize things difficult to get; he learns what (other men) do not\nlearn, and turns back to what the multitude of men have passed by.\nThus he helps the natural development of all things, and does not dare\nto act (with an ulterior purpose of his own).",
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  }
}