Dao Deqing,
Book 1,
Verse 6.
The spirit of the valley never dies.
This is called the mysterious female.
The gateway of the mysterious female is called the root of heaven and earth.
Dimly visible,
It seems,
As if it were there.
Yet use will never drain it.
Verse 7.
Heaven and earth are enduring.
The reason why heaven and earth can be enduring is that they do not give themselves life.
Hence they are able to be long-lived.
Therefore the sage puts his person last and it comes first.
Treats it as extraneous to himself and is preserved.
Is it not because he is without thought of self that he is able to accomplish his private ends?
Verse 8.
Highest good is like water because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to be.
It comes home to the way.
In a home it is the sight that matters.
In quality of mind it is depth that matters.
In an ally it is benevolence that matters.
In speech it is good faith that matters.
In government it is order that matters.
In affairs it is ability that matters.
In action it is timelessness that matters.
It is because it does not contend that it is never at fault.
