Chapter 2 — Opposites Arise Together

Classical text

天下皆知美之为美，斯恶已；皆知善之为善，斯不善已。有无相生，难易相成，长短相形，高下相倾，音声相和，前后相随。是以圣人处无为之事，行不言之教；万物作而不辞，生而不有，为而不恃，功成而弗居。夫唯弗居，是以不去。

Original rendering

When everyone recognizes beauty as beautiful, ugliness is already there. When everyone recognizes good as good, what is not good is already there. Being and non-being generate one another; difficult and easy complete one another; long and short shape one another; high and low lean upon one another; sound and voice harmonize; before and after follow one another. Therefore the sage attends to affairs without contrivance and teaches without relying on words. The ten thousand things arise, and the sage does not turn away; gives them life without possessing them; acts without depending on the action; completes the work without dwelling in the achievement. Because the sage does not dwell there, the achievement does not depart.

Beginner’s guide

Many conflicts intensify because we treat a contrast as a battle between permanent sides. Yet strengths can become weaknesses when overused, and a difficult task can become easy through practice. Seeing mutual dependence makes judgment more flexible and action less self-righteous.

Key ideas

• Opposites define and transform one another.

• Non-forcing is responsive action, not passive withdrawal.

• Work lasts more securely when the doer does not cling to credit.

Reading it in modern life

A leader can set direction without controlling every step. A teacher can create conditions in which students discover rather than merely repeat. In a disagreement, notice which position your own position depends upon. When the task is complete, let the result serve its purpose instead of continually using it to prove your worth.

A question to carry

Which opposition am I treating as fixed when it may actually be relational?

Continue reading the complete Tao Te Ching overview, Chapter 1 or continue to Chapter 3.