道德经

老子《道德经》第三十九章

昔之得一者

天得一以清

地得一以宁

神得一以灵

谷得一以盈

万物得一以生

侯王得一以为天下贞

其致之

天无以清将恐裂

地无以宁将恐发（废）

神无以灵将恐歇

谷无以盈将恐竭

万物无以生将恐灭

侯王无以贵高将恐蹶

故贵以贱为本

高以下为基

是以侯王自谓孤寡不谷

此非以贱为本邪

非乎

故致数舆无舆

不欲琭lu4琭如玉

珞珞如石

39

Of those in the past that attained the One—

Heaven, by attaining the One became clear;

Earth, by attaining the One became stable;

Gods, by attaining the One became divine;

Valleys, by attaining the One became full;

Marquises and kings, by attaining the One made the whole land ordered and secure.

Taking this to its logical conclusion we would say—

If Heaven were not by means of it clear, it would, I’m afraid, shatter;

If the Earth were not by means of it stable, it would, I’m afraid, let go.

If the gods were not by means of it divine, they would, I’m afraid, be powerless.

If valleys were not by means of it full, they would, I’m afraid, dry up.

And if marquises and kings were not by means of it noble and high, they would, I’m afraid, topple and fall.

Therefore, it must be the case that the noble has the base as its root;

And it must be the case that the high has the low for its foundation.

Thus, for this reason, marquises and kings call themselves “The Orphan,” “The Widower,” and “The One Without Grain.”

This is taking the base as one’s root, is it not?!

Therefore, they regard their large numbers of carriages as having no carriage.

And because of this, they desire not to dazzle and glitter like jade,

But to remain firm and strong like stone.