Chapter 24
There was something undifferentiated yet complete, born before Heaven and Earth.
Silent and empty, it stands alone and does not change. It circulates everywhere without exhaustion, and may be regarded as the Mother of all under Heaven.
I do not know its name. I style it 'Dao.' Forced to give it a name, I call it 'Great.'
Great means passing forth. Passing forth means distancing. Distancing means returning.
Therefore the Dao is great, Heaven is great, Earth is great, and the Sovereign too is great.
Within the realm of existence there are four great powers, and the Sovereign dwells as one among them.
Humanity models itself on Earth, Earth models itself on Heaven, Heaven models itself on the Dao, and the Dao models itself on its own nature.