2: The Paradox of Opposites


All the world knows beauty

But if that becomes beautiful

This becomes ugly

All the world knows good

But if that becomes good

This becomes bad

Have and have not create each other

Hard and easy produce each other

Long and short shape each other

High and low complete each other

Note and noise accompany each other

First and last follow each other

Sages therefore perform effortless deeds and teach wordless lessons

They don’t look after all the things that arise or depend on them as the develop

Or claim them when they reach perfection

And because they don’t claim them

They are never without them

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