The Dao, due to its all-encompassing and formless nature, cannot be grasped through the perception of concrete forms. We learn to cultivate the Dao by emulating the sages.
The reason rivers and seas can become kings of the hundred valleysis that they excel at being lower than them—thus they can become kings of the hundred valleys. Therefore, whenever the sage wishes to lead the people,he places himself lower than them in speech;whenever he wishes to stand ahead of the people,he puts himself…
When one is about to take an inspiration, he is sure to make a (previous) expiration; when he is going to weaken another, he will first strengthen him; when he is going to overthrow another, he will first have raised him up; when he is going to despoil another, he will first have made…