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"Those of old that attain the One: Heaven attains the One thus is clear, Earth attains the One thus is peaceful, Spirits attain the One thus are efficacious, Valleys attain the One thus are replenished, Ten thousand beings attain the One thus come to be, Princes and barons attain the One thus are exalted in the world. All because they attain the One. Heaven, without that which renders it clear, might crack, Earth, without that which renders it peaceful, might explode, Spirits, without that which makes them efficacious, might cease, Valleys, without that which replenishes them, might become empty, Ten thousand beings, without that which sustains them in existence, might become extinct, Barons and kings, without that which exalts them to high positions, might be toppled. Therefore the exalted is rooted in the humble, The high has the low for foundation. Therefore barons and kings call themselves orphaned, widowed and unworthy. Is this not taking the humble for one's root? Is it not? Therefore the most famous has no fame. Do not tinkle like jade, Or chime like stones!"

Author

Lao Tzu

All Translations

English

"Those of old that attain the One: Heaven attains the One thus is clear, Earth attains the One thus is peaceful, Spirits attain the One thus are efficacious, Valleys attain the One thus are replenished, Ten thousand beings attain the One thus come to be, Princes and barons attain the One thus are exalted in the world. All because they attain the One. Heaven, without that which renders it clear, might crack, Earth, without that which renders it peaceful, might explode, Spirits, without that which makes them efficacious, might cease, Valleys, without that which replenishes them, might become empty, Ten thousand beings, without that which sustains them in existence, might become extinct, Barons and kings, without that which exalts them to high positions, might be toppled. Therefore the exalted is rooted in the humble, The high has the low for foundation. Therefore barons and kings call themselves orphaned, widowed and unworthy. Is this not taking the humble for one's root? Is it not? Therefore the most famous has no fame. Do not tinkle like jade, Or chime like stones!"

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