What makes a kingdom great is its being like a down-flowing river,--the central point towards which all the smaller streams under Heaven converge; or like the female throughout the world, who by quiescence always overcomes the male. And quiescence is a form of humility.
Things are not worth attending to, yet they have to be attended to.
The sage does not attempt anything very big, and thus achieves greatness.
To be learned, add something each day. To be enlightened drop something each day.
The female always surpasses the male with stillness. In her stillness she is yielding.
Life is going forth; death is returning home.