Lord Xiaoxiang 2

Clarity through unity, tranquility through unity. Life and spirit, through clarity and tranquility. Those of old who attained the One: Heaven attained the One and became clear; earth attained the One and became tranquil; spirits attained the One and became numinous; valleys attained the One and became full; rulers attained the One and became upright, setting the world in order. If they could not remain so: Heaven would lose its clarity and risk splitting apart; earth would lose its tranquility and risk collapse; spirits would lose their numinous power and risk vanishing; valleys would lose their fullness and risk running dry; rulers would lose their uprightness and risk falling. Therefore, the noble must take the lowly as their root, and the high must take the lowly as their foundation. That is why rulers call themselves lonely, bereft, and unworthy. Is this not making the lowly their root? Thus, to pile up praise is to have no praise at all. So one should not wish to be polished and precious like jade, but rough and humble like stone.