Under heaven everyone knows that the existence of beauty
depends on the existence of ugliness.
Everyone knows the capacity of kindness
depends on the existence of the unkind.
Existence and nothingness are mutually born,
difficult and easy complete each other,
long and short shape each other,
tall and short rest upon each other,
sound and music harmonize each other,
before and after follow one another.
Because of this the sage
dwells in the world of non-action,
practices teaching without speaking.
The ten thousand beings rise and fall
and she does makes no claim on them.
She creates but does possess them.
She works but does not take credit for it.
Because she does not take credit for her accomplishments
they will last forever.
Daode Jing Chapter 2
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