Chapter 2
-
When everyone in the world recognizes beauty as beautiful, the idea of ugliness arises. When everyone recognizes skill as skillful, the idea of unskillfulness arises.
-
So existence and non-existence give rise to each other; difficulty and ease produce each other; long and short shape each other; high and low depend on each other; musical notes and tones harmonize with each other; and before and after follow each other.
-
Therefore the sage handles affairs through non-action, and teaches without using words.
-
All things arise, and none refuses to appear; they grow, and no one claims ownership of them; they run their course, and no reward is expected. The work is completed, and no one dwells on it as an achievement.
The work is done, yet no one sees how; this is why its power never fades.
