Opposites

Chapter Two from Tao Te Ching.

"When beauty is only a masquerade,
it is simply ugliness.
In the same way, goodness, if it is not sincere,
it not really goodness.

Existence and nonexistence are incompatible.
The difficult and the easy are mutually opposed.
The long and the short , the high and the low,
the loud and the soft, the before and the after --
all are opposites.
Each revels the other.

The wise are not conspicuous in their actions
or given to much talking,
When troubles arise,
they are not irritated.

They produce, but do not hoard;
They act, but expect no praise;
They build, but do not dwell therein.

And because they do not dwell therein,
They never depart."

Peace and happiness to you all!