In the world, when men see beauty, they call it beautiful and beget ugliness.

When men see goodness, they call it good and beget evil.

And so feast and famine give birth to each other.

Difficult and easy complete each other.

Long and short provide measure for each other.

Wealth builds its mansions out of poverty.

Tones have a musical identity only in reference to one another.

Everything begun must necessarily end; the moment alone endures eternally.

And so the sage manages without effort and teaches without words.

The ten thousand things act upon him, and he receives them.

He gives birth to them, yet possesses them not.

He works without ambition, contributes while claiming no credit.

In the absence of anxiety, his achievements endure eternally.