Dao De Jing Book 1,
Verse 1 The way that can be spoken of is not the constant way.
The name that can be named is not the constant name.
The nameless was the beginning of heaven and earth.
The named was the mother of the myriad creatures.
Hence always rid yourself of desires in order to observe its secrets.
But always allow yourself to have desires in order to observe its manifestations.
These two are the same,
But diverge in name as they issue forth.
Being the same,
They are called mysteries.
Mystery upon mystery,
The gateway of the manifold secrets.
Verse 2 The whole world recognises the beautiful as the beautiful,
Yet this is only the ugly.
The whole world recognises the good as the good,
Yet this is only the bad.
The something and nothing produce each other.
The difficult and the easy complement each other.
The long and the short offset each other.
The high and the low incline towards each other.
Note and sound harmonise with each other.
Before and after follow each other.
Therefore the sage keeps to the deed that consists in taking no action and practices the teaching that uses no words.
The myriad creatures rise.
From it,
Yet it claims no authority.
It gives them life,
Yet claims no possession.
It benefits them,
Yet exacts no gratitude.
It accomplishes its task,
Yet lays claim to no merit.
It is because it lays claim to no merit that its merit never deserts it.
