45. Great Completion
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
大成若缺，其用不弊。
English translation
Great completion seems incomplete, yet its usefulness does not wear out.
What is truly mature need not present a flawless surface. By remaining open rather than fixed and self-satisfied, it can keep working over time.
Original Chinese text
大盈若冲，其用不穷。
English translation
Great fullness seems empty, yet its usefulness is never exhausted.
Real abundance does not fill every space. Because it leaves room to receive and circulate, it continues to give rise to new possibilities.
Original Chinese text
大直若屈，大巧若拙，大辩若讷。
English translation
Great straightness seems bent; great skill seems clumsy; great eloquence seems hesitant.
Deep integrity and ability do not rush to display themselves. Because they adapt to circumstances and avoid showmanship, they may look ordinary or awkward.
Original Chinese text
躁胜寒静胜热。
English translation
Movement overcomes cold; stillness overcomes heat.
Activity and quiet each have their proper use: movement brings warmth in the cold, while stillness brings relief in the heat. The fitting response depends on the situation.
Original Chinese text
清静为天下正。
English translation
Clarity and stillness set the world in order.
When those who govern are less driven by private desire and agitation, they can see matters clearly and avoid disturbing people through constant interference.