Tao Te Ching · Chapter 39

The Origin of Principle

1 verses · From oneness arose heaven's clarity, earth's stability, the spirit's power. Without it, heaven would crack, earth crumble. The noble takes lowliness as foundation; the high stands on the low. Counting carriage parts one by one is no carriage at all — wholeness exceeds the sum of its named pieces.

• ¶ Ch. 39

  These are the things that from of old have obtained the One: Heaven obtained the One and…