The Tao Te Ching
天得一以清；地得一以寧；
神得一以靈；谷得一以盈；
萬物得一以生；
侯王得一以為天下貞。
其致之也，謂：
天無以清，將恐裂；
地無以寧，將恐發；
神無以靈，將恐歇；
谷無以盈，將恐竭；
萬物無以生，將恐滅；
侯王無以貴高，將恐蹶。
故貴以賤為本，高以下為基。
是以侯王自謂孤、寡、不穀。
此其以賤為本邪？非乎？
故致數輿無輿。
不欲琭琭如玉，珞珞如石。
From ancient times, these things have obtained the "One" (Unity with the Dao):
Heaven obtained the One and became clear;
Earth obtained the One and became stable;
Spirits obtained the One and became divine;
The Valley obtained the One and became full;
The myriad things obtained the One and became alive;
Kings and lords obtained the One and became the standard for the world.
Without that which makes it clear, Heaven would crack;
Without that which makes it stable, Earth would shatter;
Without that which makes it divine, Spirits would fade;
Without that which makes it full, the Valley would run dry;
Without that which makes them alive, the myriad things would perish;
Without that which makes them noble and high, kings and lords would fall.
Therefore, the noble must take the humble as their root;
The high must take the low as their foundation.
Therefore, the highest acclaim is to be without acclaim.
Do not desire to shine like precious jade, but rather be sturdy and common like stone.
Lao Tzu introduces the concept of the "One"—the unifying principle of the Tao that binds reality together and sustains life.
Just as the sky needs clarity to be the sky and the earth needs stability to be the earth, every system relies on an underlying integrity to function.
When we lose this connection to the whole, things fall apart: the mind scatters, relationships fracture, and societies crumble.
The "One" is not a numerical digit but a state of complete integration where internal contradictions cease and energy flows without obstruction.
Consider a healthy ecosystem where every plant and animal plays a role; if you remove the unifying balance, the system dies.
Similarly, an athlete in "the zone" moves as one unit; if they overthink a specific muscle, they lose their grace and stumble.
We often obsess over the peak of the mountain and ignore the massive base that holds it up, yet true height relies entirely on what is low.
Lao Tzu inverts our perspective, teaching that the "low" is not inferior—it is foundational, and nobility is sustained only by humility.
A tree’s branches can only reach high if its roots go deep into the dark soil; without the support of the "low," the "high" has nowhere to stand and will inevitably topple.
A skyscraper is only as strong as its buried foundation; the taller it is, the deeper it must go into the ground.
A CEO’s power does not come from their title, but from the frontline workers who actually execute the vision and support the structure.
Society conditions us to want to be "jade"—rare, shiny, expensive, and constantly seeking admiration from others.
But jade is brittle; it requires protection, constant polishing, and anxiety to maintain its flawless image.
Lao Tzu advises us to be like "stone"—common, sturdy, unpretentious, and capable of weathering storms that would shatter a more delicate ego.
Being stone means you are comfortable in your own skin, unconcerned with external validation, and deeply grounded in reality rather than appearance.
The influencer who curates a perfect life is like jade, terrified of a single crack in their image revealing the truth.
The quiet volunteer who shows up every week regardless of praise is like stone, reliable and deeply grounded in their purpose.
The Problem: A manager has been promoted rapidly and now isolates themselves in a corner office, making decisions based on spreadsheets without consulting the team. They believe their title gives them superior insight, but morale is plummeting, and the department structure is cracking due to a lack of shared reality.
The Taoist Solution: The manager must "take the humble as the root." They must descend from the "high" position and reconnect with the foundation by admitting they don't know everything and asking for help. By referring to themselves as "unworthy"—serving the team rather than ruling them—they restore the "One." When the leader honors the foundation, the department regains its stability and strength.
The Problem: An artist or professional is obsessed with being "jade," wanting every project to be a masterpiece that garners universal praise. They spend hours polishing minor details, terrified of criticism. This fragility makes them anxious and exhausted, as they feel they must constantly shine to be worthy of existence.
The Taoist Solution: They must embrace the wisdom of being "rough like stone." Instead of seeking to be a rare gem on a pedestal, they should focus on being solid and reliable. The goal shifts from "impressing others" to "expressing truth." By accepting their work as a sturdy contribution rather than a fragile ornament, they release the fear of judgment and find sustainable creativity.
The Problem: A couple is constantly arguing over surface-level details—chores, schedules, and money—operating as two competing individuals trying to win the debate. They have lost the sense of "us," and the relationship feels like the sky threatening to crack because the unifying bond is gone.
The Taoist Solution: They need to return to the "One" by prioritizing the health of the bond over being right. The solution is not to win the argument but to restore the underlying unity. By practicing humility—admitting faults and watering the "root" of their shared connection—they reintegrate. When the relationship obtains the "One" again, peace and stability naturally return.