Categories: Tao Te Ching

Tao Te Ching- Chapter 01-Verse 02 (I-IV)

Chinese Text: 天下皆知 美之為美，斯惡已。皆知善之為善，斯不善已。故有無相生，難 易相成， 長短相較，高下相 傾，音聲相和，前後相隨。是以聖人處無為之 事，行不言之教；萬物作焉而不辭，生而不有。為而不恃，功成而弗居。 夫唯弗居，是以不去。

English Text: I- 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.

II- 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.

III- Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech.

IV- 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.