42
The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three;
Three
produced All things.
All things leave behind them the Obscurity
(out
of which they have come), and go forward to embrace the
Brightness (into which they have emerged), while they are harmonised
by
the Breath of Vacancy.
What men dislike is to be orphans, to have little virtue, to be as
carriages without naves;
and yet these are the designations which
kings and princes use for themselves.
So it is that some things are
increased by being diminished,
and others are diminished by being
increased.
What other men (thus) teach, I also teach. The violent
and strong
do not die their natural death. I will make this the basis of my
teaching.
