Tao Te Ching 39 · 39

昔之得一者，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，侯王得一以天下為正。其致之，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，侯王無以貴高將恐蹷。故貴以賤為本，高必以下為基。是以侯王自謂孤、寡、不轂，此非以賤為本耶非乎。故致數車無車，不欲琭琭如玉，落落如石。

Of old, the ones that got the One: Heaven got the One and so is clear; Earth got the One and so is at rest; the spirits got the One and so have power. The valley got the One and so is full; the ten thousand things got the One and so live; lords and kings got the One and so set the world right. Its warning is this: If Heaven were clear without end, it would, I fear, crack apart. If Earth were at rest without end, it would, I fear, burst open. If the spirits had power without end, they would, I fear, fade away. If the valley were full without end, it would, I fear, run dry. If the ten thousand things lived without end, they would, I fear, die out. If lords and kings were noble and high without end, they would, I fear, fall. So the noble takes the lowly as its root; the high must take the low as its base. So lords and kings call themselves “the orphan,” “the widower,” and “not the hub.” Is this not taking the lowly as the root? Is it not? So go and count the parts of a chariot, and there is no chariot. Do not wish to be rare like jade, or common like stone.