Back to book page: Tao Te Ching

Chapter 42.

Reading settings

Text size

20
Line spacing
Column width
Typeface
Theme

Contents

Keyboard shortcuts

  • ← / →previous or next chapter
  • j / kscroll down or up
  • bbookmark this place
  • fturn focus mode on or off
  • ?show this list

Quote card

Preparing the card…

Tao Te Ching

Chapter 42.

Chapter 42 of 811 min

1. The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things. All things leave behind them the Obscurity (out of which they have come), and go forward to embrace the Brightness (into which they have emerged), while they are harmonised by the Breath of Vacancy.

2. What men dislike is to be orphans, to have little virtue, to be as carriages without naves; and yet these are the designations which kings and princes use for themselves. So it is that some things are increased by being diminished, and others are diminished by being increased.

3. What other men (thus) teach, I also teach. The violent and strong do not die their natural death. I will make this the basis of my teaching.

End of chapter