Daodejing 28

#28*

Knowing power, abiding in modesty;
like a stream under Heaven.

Like a stream under Heaven-
never abandoning eternal virtue,
returning at last to purity.

Knowing white, abiding in black;
like this order under Heaven.

Like this order under Heaven-
never losing eternal virtue,
returning at last to infinity.

Knowing honor, abiding in humility;
like a canyon under Heaven.

Like a canyon under Heaven-
full of eternal virtue,
returning at last to simplicity.

Simplicity distributes all things.
The Sage uses this to become leader,
hence a perfect system is indivisible.

*Translation by LU Wenlong & Keith Wayne Brown, ©2013.

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