Chapter 2

All under heaven know that beauty is beautiful only because of ugliness. They know that goodness is good only because of evil. Therefore, being and non-being give rise to each other; difficult and easy complete each other; long and short compare with each other; high and low incline toward each other; note and sound harmonize with each other; before and after follow each other. Thus the sage manages affairs by non-action, and teaches without words. He lets all things arise without initiating them, produces them without possessing them, acts without relying on his own ability, and accomplishes his work without claiming credit. It is precisely because he does not claim credit that his merit never departs.