1. All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what ugliness is; they all know the skill of the skilful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what the want of skill is.
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故有无相生,难易相成,长短相形,高下相倾,音声相和,前后相随……
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2. So it is that existence and non-existence give birth the one to (the idea of) the other; that difficulty and ease produce the one (the idea of) the other; that length and shortness fashion out the one the figure of the other; that (the ideas of) height and lowness arise from the contrast of the one with the other; that the musical notes and tones become harmonious through the relation of one with another; and that being before and behind give the idea of one following another.
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是以圣人处无为之事,行不言之教,万物作焉而不辞,生而不有,为而不恃,功成而不居。
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3. Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech.
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夫唯不居,是以不去。
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4. All things spring up, and there is not one which declines to show itself; they grow, and there is no claim made for their ownership; they go through their processes, and there is no expectation (of a reward for the results). The work is accomplished, and there is no resting in it (as an achievement).