Chapter 76
IndexIs not the Way of Heaven like the stretching of a bow?
The high is pressed down, the low is lifted up; the excessive is reduced, the deficient is supplemented.
The Way of Heaven is to reduce the excessive and supplement the deficient.
The way of humans, however, is different: they take from those who lack to give to those who already have excess.
Who can have excess and use it to serve the world? Only one who possesses the Dao.
Therefore, the sage acts without relying on it, achieves merit but does not dwell on it, and does not wish to display their virtue.