昔之得一者，天得一以清；地得一以宁；神得一以灵；谷得一以盈，万物得一以生；候王得一以为天一正。其致之也，谓天无以清，将恐裂；地无以宁，将恐废；神无以灵，将恐歇；谷无以盈，将恐竭；万物无以生，将恐灭；候王无以正，将恐蹶。故贵以贱为本，高以下为基。是以候王自称孤、寡、不谷。此非以贱为本邪？非乎？故至誉无誉。是故不欲琭琭如玉，珞珞如石。

Tao Ching Chapter Thirty-nine

In the beginning, there were those who attained the Oneness;

Heaven, by attaining the Oneness became clear;

Earth, by attaining the Oneness became peaceful;

Spirit, by attaining the Oneness became divine;

True nature is like an empty valley, and by attaining the Oneness,

It became fully productive.

All things, by attaining the Oneness became alive.

Emperors and nobilities, by attaining Oneness can bring peace and prosperity to the world.

All these are the results of achieving Oneness.

Heaven, without clarity would crack.

Earth, without peace would quake.

Spirit, without divinity would be powerless.

True nature, without productivity would result in exhaustion of life.

All things, without life essence would perish.

Emperors, without Oneness to exalt them to nobility, would stumble and fall.

Thus, honor is based on humbleness.

The high builds its foundation upon the low.

Therefore, the kings and nobles call themselves “the solitude,” “the unworthy,” and “the virtueless.”

Is this not the reason why they base their honor upon humbleness?

Hence, the highly honored do not regard themselves as nobles and have no wish to be self-centered to think nobly of themselves as a piece of jade nor to think lowly of others as a lump of stone.