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2
All in the
world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing
this they have (the idea of) what ugliness is; they all know the skill
of
the skilful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what the
want of skill is.
So it is that existence and non-existence
give birth the one to
(the idea of) the other; that difficulty and ease produce the one (the
idea of) the other; that
length and shortness fashion out the one the
figure of the other; that (the ideas of) height and lowness arise from
the
contrast of the one with the other; that the musical notes and
tones become harmonious through the relation of one with
another; and
that being before and behind give the idea of one following another.
Therefore
the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and
conveys his instructions without the use of speech.
All things
spring up, and there is not one which declines to show
itself; they grow, and there is no claim made for their ownership;
they
go through their processes, and there is no expectation (of a
reward for the results). The work is accomplished, and there
is no
resting in it (as an achievement).
The work is done, but how no
one can see;
'Tis this that makes the power not cease to be.
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