Chapter 77

Isn’t the Way of Heaven like stringing a bow? What is high is pulled down, and what is low is lifted up. So Heaven reduces what is excessive and adds to what is lacking.

The Way of Heaven is to reduce excess and supply what is lacking. The way of humans is not like this. People take from those who have too little in order to add to their own excess.

Who can take their own excess and use it to serve everyone under heaven? Only one who possesses the Tao.

So the sage acts without claiming credit for the results; he accomplishes his work without resting on it—he has no wish to show off his superiority.