Tao Te Ching · Ch. 7

天長地久。天地所以能長且久者,以其不自生,故能長生。是以聖人後其身而身先;外其身而身存。非以其無私邪?故能成其私。

Tiān cháng dì jiǔ. Tiān dì suǒ yǐ néng cháng qiě jiǔ zhě, yǐ qí bù zì shēng, gù néng cháng shēng. Shì yǐ shèng rén hòu qí shēn ér shēn xiān; Wài qí shēn ér shēn cún. Fēi yǐ qí wú sī yé? Gù néng chéng qí sī.

Heaven is long-lasting and earth endures. The reason heaven and earth can last so long is that they do not live for themselves — and so they are able to endure. Therefore the sage puts himself last, yet finds himself first; sets himself outside, yet finds himself preserved. Is it not because he is without self-interest? And yet through that very selflessness, his own purpose is fulfilled.

— Tao Te Ching 7

Source: Wang Bi edition (Chinese) + Hanyu Pinyin transliteration