Tao Te Ching Chapter 42

Translation by John H. McDonald

The Tao gave birth to One.

The One gave birth to Two.

The Two gave birth to Three.

The Three gave birth to all of creation.

All things carry Yin

yet embrace Yang.

They blend their life breaths

in order to produce harmony.

People despise being orphaned, widowed and poor.

But the noble ones take these as their titles.

In losing, much is gained,

and in gaining, much is lost.

What others teach I too will teach:

“The strong and violent will not die a natural death.”

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Reference: Tao Te Ching