The Tao gave birth to One.
One gave birth to Two.
Two gave birth to Three.
Three gave birth to all things.

All things emerge from darkness
and move toward light,
held together
by the breath of emptiness.

People dislike being called
“orphan,”
“unworthy,”
or “a broken cart” —
yet these are the titles
used by kings and sages.

What is diminished
may increase.
What is increased
may be diminished.

This is also what I teach:
Those who use force
die before their time.
This is the root of my teaching.