2. The Use of Contraries

Contents

Text

English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

When everyone under heaven recognizes beauty as beauty, ugliness has already appeared.

Once a standard of beauty is established, its opposite is created alongside it; judgments arise through contrast.

Original Chinese text

English translation

When everyone recognizes goodness as goodness, what is not good has already appeared.

Defining a standard of goodness also creates its contrary, reminding us that such distinctions should not be mistaken for absolute facts.

Original Chinese text

English translation

Thus being and nonbeing give rise to each other; difficult and easy complete each other; long and short measure each other; high and low depend on each other; tone and voice harmonize with each other; front and back follow each other.

Each term becomes meaningful through its counterpart. Seeing this dependence keeps our understanding from becoming isolated and rigid.

Original Chinese text

English translation

Therefore the sage attends to affairs without forcing them and teaches without relying on pronouncements; as the myriad things arise, the sage does not turn them away, and in fostering their life does not claim possession.

Acting without force is not inactivity. It means guiding through conduct while allowing things room to develop on their own.

Original Chinese text

English translation

One acts without depending on the deed for status, and completes the work without claiming the credit.

Contribute fully, but do not use the result to elevate yourself or let ownership of success obstruct what follows.

Original Chinese text

English translation

Precisely because one does not claim the achievement, it does not pass away.

When a contribution is not bound to personal gain, its value can endure and be carried forward.

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