Heaven does not speak, yet people infer its height. Earth does not speak, yet people infer its thickness. The four seasons do not speak, and yet all the people learn their rhythm. All these are constant because they have integrity.
The noble one is the ultimate in integrity. They silently set an example. They give to others without receiving special favors. They are powerful without resorting to anger. Everyone obeys their orders because the noble one acts with steadfast care.
The Tao of such goodness means that without integrity, there is no steadfastness. Without steadfastness, there is no embodiment. Without embodiment, people will not follow you even if you try to put it in your heart, your face, and your words. They won't follow you because they will be suspicious.
Heaven and earth are great, but without integrity, they could not bring forth the ten thousand things. The sage is wise, but without integrity, they would not be able to bring change to the people. Parent and child love each other, but without integrity they would drift apart. King and officials are exalted, but without integrity, they would be despised.
So integrity is what a noble one should guard the most. It is the root of all government affairs. If they maintain that, all levels of society will also come to the same point.
If you grasp it, you will attain it. If you let go, you will lose it. If you grasp and attain it, it becomes light. If it is light, then you will be steadfast in action. If you are steadfast in action without letting go, then you will improve. If you improve and develop your talents, if you keep moving forward for a long time without going back to where you started, then you will be changed.
As soon as an idea arises in your heart
heaven and earth will surely know.
If good and bad were without retribution
then heaven and earth would be partial.
The True Persons maximize themselves but minimize the world. They value controlling themselves instead of controlling others. They don't let their harmony slip away with things. They don't let desire confuse their emotions. They hide their name and surname. The method of those with Tao is concealment, while those without Tao is visibility.
Do by not-doing. Endeavor through no-endeavors. Know through not-knowing. Carry heaven's Tao in you. Embrace heaven's heart. Exhale and inhale yin and yang. Expel the old and take in the new. Close together with yin. Open together with yang. Roll and open with hardness and softness. Bow down and rise up with yin and yang.
Keep your heart the same with heaven. Keep your body with Tao. There is no joy, no bitterness, no happiness, no anger. The ten thousand things are profoundly united. There is nothing wrong and there is nothing right.
When people fall ill, it's due to the harshness of cold and hot, dry and damp. When we examine them physically, we find that their spirit is also affected. Their spirit falls ill and their faculties of enjoyment, anger, thought, and interest suffer. The spirit can become exhausted even if the body still has strength left.
Therefore, the True Person uses their heart to prop up their feelings and to soothe their spirit. By supporting both the body and the spirit, they can have a new start. Then they sleep without disturbing dreams and wake without worry.
