Chapter 34

The Great Tao spreads everywhere! It can be found on the left and on the right.

All things rely on it to come into being, and it never refuses any of them. When its work is done, it claims no credit. It clothes and nourishes all things but does not act as their master—so it can be called small. All things return to it without knowing it presides over them—so it can be called great.

This is why the sage can achieve greatness: because he never makes himself great, he is able to accomplish great things.