25

"There is a thing formed in chaos Existing before Heaven and Earth.* Silent and solitary, it stands alone, unchanging.** It goes around without peril. It may be the Mother of the world.*3* Not knowing its name*4*, I can only style it Tao.*5* With reluctance, I would call it Great.*6* Great means out-going.*7* Out-going means far-reaching. Far-reaching means returning.*8* Therefore, Tao is great. Heaven is great. Earth is great. The king is great.*9* In the universe, there are four great things,*10* and the king is one of them.*11* Man abides by earth, Earth abides by heaven, Heaven abides by Tao, Tao abides by nature.*12*"