When all under heaven judge the beautiful to be beautiful
Ugliness is formed
When all under heaven judge the good to be good
Then evil is formed

In this manner something and nothing give birth to one another
Difficult and easy complete one another
Long and short define one another
Over and under flow around one another
The many tones harmonise with one another
Front and back follow one another

Knowing this, the Sage follows his vocation without "acting"
And confers his wisdom without speaking
The ten thousand things arise, how?
Flourishing without expressing
Living without possessing
Acting without presuming
Achieving without keeping

He alone who does not keep
Never loses what he gains

天下皆知美之為美，斯惡已
皆知善之為善，斯不善已

故有無相生
難易相成
長短相形
高下相傾
音聲相和
前後相隨

是以聖人處無為之事
行不言之教
萬物作焉而不辭
生而不有
為而不恃
功成而弗居

夫唯弗居
是以不去