There are no words for effort in the entire Tao Te Ching. Those who exert excessive force cannot go far. Some people always live and work with all their might; others do not force or resist, but follow the natural course of events. If a person constantly emphasizes using willpower to whip themselves, to scold themselves, to force themselves to do certain things, to pursue, to climb, to grasp, their mental energy will quickly be exhausted, and their spiritual vitality will also run out rapidly. True strength lies in following the natural flow and acting effortlessly. It’s like eating with force—the more effort you put in, the harder it is to swallow. When sleeping with force, the more effort you make, the more awake you become and cannot sleep. When working hard, the more force you exert, the less focus you have on your work. When loving with force, the more effort you put in, the more emotionally drained you become. All things in this world, when pushed too hard, cannot go far.