Chapter 22

What is partial becomes whole; what is crooked becomes straight; what is empty becomes full; what is worn out becomes new. Those with few desires obtain what they want; those with many desires lose their way.

So the sage embraces this one thing—humility—and shows it to the world. He does not display himself, and so he shines. He does not assert himself, and so he stands out. He does not boast, and so his merit is recognized. He is not self-satisfied, and so he rises above others. Because he does not contend, no one in the world can contend with him.

The ancient saying “the partial becomes complete” was not empty words—all true completeness is contained in it.