Tao Te Ching Book 1 verse 22 Bow down,
Then preserved.
Bent,
Then straight.
Hollow,
Then full.
Worn,
Then new.
A little,
Then benefited.
Alot,
Then perplexed.
Therefore the sage embraces the one and is a model for the empire.
He does not show himself and so is conspicuous.
He does not consider himself right and so is illustrious.
He does not brag and so has merit.
He does not boast and so endures.
It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in a position to contend with him.
The way the ancients had it,
Bowed down,
Then preserved,
Is no empty saying.
Truly,
It enables one to be preserved to the end.
Verse 23 To use words,
But rarely is to be natural.
Hence,
A gusty wind cannot last all morning and a sudden downpour cannot last all day.
Who is it that produces these?
Heaven and earth?
If even heaven and earth cannot go on forever,
Much less can man,
That is why one follows the way.
A man of the way conforms to the way.
A man of virtue conforms to virtue.
A man of loss conforms to loss.
He who conforms to the way is gladly accepted by the way.
He who conforms to virtue is gladly accepted by virtue.
He who conforms to loss is gladly accepted by loss.
When there is not enough faith,
There is lack of good faith.
