39
"Look at those in the past who attained the One: Heaven, having attained the One, was clear; Earth, having attained the One, was tranquil; The Spirit, having attained the One, was potent; The valleys, having attained the One, were plentiful; All things, having attained the One, were able to live; Lords and kings, having attained the One, set the norm for the world. If we push this further, We may say that if Heaven was not clear, It would probably collapse; If Earth was not tranquil, It would probably be destroyed; If the Spirit was not potent, It would probably cease to work; If the valleys were not plentiful, They would probably dry up; If all things had nothing to live by, They would probably become extinct; If the lords and kings had lost their norm, They would probably fall. Thus the noble depends on the humble as the roots; The high depends on the low as the base; That is why the lords and kings call themselves the Orphaned, the Widowed, or the Undeserving. Isn’t that taking the lowly as the roots? Isn’t that so? Thus the highest honor is no honor. Therefore do not desire jade-like glamour, But rock-like solidity."
Author
Lao TzuAll Translations
"Look at those in the past who attained the One: Heaven, having attained the One, was clear; Earth, having attained the One, was tranquil; The Spirit, having attained the One, was potent; The valleys, having attained the One, were plentiful; All things, having attained the One, were able to live; Lords and kings, having attained the One, set the norm for the world. If we push this further, We may say that if Heaven was not clear, It would probably collapse; If Earth was not tranquil, It would probably be destroyed; If the Spirit was not potent, It would probably cease to work; If the valleys were not plentiful, They would probably dry up; If all things had nothing to live by, They would probably become extinct; If the lords and kings had lost their norm, They would probably fall. Thus the noble depends on the humble as the roots; The high depends on the low as the base; That is why the lords and kings call themselves the Orphaned, the Widowed, or the Undeserving. Isn’t that taking the lowly as the roots? Isn’t that so? Thus the highest honor is no honor. Therefore do not desire jade-like glamour, But rock-like solidity."