Tao Te Ching

A Dao that can be set out in words is not the enduring Dao. A name that can be assigned is not an enduring name.

Without a name, it is the beginning of heaven and earth; with a name, it is the mother of all things.

Thus, free of desire, one perceives its subtle working; with desire, one perceives its outward limits.

These two arise together but bear different names. Both are called profound: depth within depth, the entrance to every subtle wonder.

Once everyone under heaven recognizes beauty as beauty, ugliness is already there. Once everyone recognizes goodness as goodness, what is not good is already there.

Presence and absence bring each other forth. Difficulty and ease complete each other. Length and shortness define each other by comparison. Height and depth incline toward each other. Tones and voices answer each other. What comes before and what comes after follow each other.

For this reason, the sage attends to affairs without imposing action and gives instruction without speech. As all things arise, the sage does not turn them away; gives them life without owning them; acts without resting a claim on the action; and completes the work without occupying its place of honor.

Precisely by not occupying that place, the sage's accomplishment does not pass away.

Do not exalt the worthy, and the people will not compete. Do not prize goods that are hard to obtain, and the people will not steal. Do not display objects of desire, and their hearts will not be disturbed.

Accordingly, the sage governs by emptying their hearts and filling their bellies, softening their ambitions and strengthening their bones.

Keep the people free of cunning and desire, so that those who are clever do not dare to interfere. Act without imposing action, and nothing will remain ungoverned.