Laozi
大道汎兮，其可左右。 萬物恃之而生而不辭，功成不名有。 衣養萬物而不為主，常無欲， 可名於小；萬物歸焉，而不為主， 可名為大。以其終不自為大， 故能成其大。
James Legge
All-pervading is the Great Tao! It may be found on the left hand and on the right.
All things depend on it for their production, which it gives to them, not one refusing obedience to it. When its work is accomplished, it does not claim the name of having done it. It clothes all things as with a garment, and makes no assumption of being their lord;—it may be named in the smallest things. All things return (to their root and disappear), and do not know that it is it which presides over their doing so;—it may be named in the greatest things.
Hence the sage is able (in the same way) to accomplish his great achievements. It is through his not making himself great that he can accomplish them.
Victor H. Mair
Rippling is the Way, flowing left and right! Its tasks completed, its affairs finished, Still it does not claim them for its own. The myriad creatures return to it, But it does not act as their ruler. Eternally without desire, It may be named among the small; The myriad creatures return to it, But it does not act as their ruler; It may be named among the great. For these reasons, The sage can achieve greatness, Because he does not act great. Therefore, He can achieve greatness.
C. Spurgeon Medhurst
Supreme is the Tao! All pervasive; it can be on the left hand and on the right.
All things depend on it for life, and it denies none.
Its purposes accomplished, it claims no credit.
It clothes and fosters [^1] all things, but claims no lordship.
Ever desireless, it may be named ‘The Indivisible.‘
All things revert to it, but it claims no lordship. It may be named ‘The Supreme.‘
Because to the end it does not seek supremacy; it is able to accomplish great things. [^2]
Says an unknown pagan quoted by Philoponus—“All things are full of God: on all sides hath He ears, ears that hear, can hear through rocks, and compass earth, and pierce through man himself to hear the smallest thought he hides within his breast.”
And says a modern theologian: [**] “The universe is God living his life, and living it by limitation. But beyond and behind are the infinite resources of his being.”
[^1] There is an alternative reading—“lovingly nourishes.”
[^2] In many editions this sentence refers to the Sage, and not to the Tao. Commenting on the conclusion of the chapter Su Cheh says, “Who makes himself great is small.” See Matt. xx. 26, 28.
”Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.” (Psa. cxxxix. 7-10.)
^60:* R. J. Campbell, B. A.
Ursula K. Le Guin
The Great Way runs to left, to right, the ten thousand things depending on it, living on it, accepted by it.
Doing its work, it goes unnamed. Clothing and feeding the ten thousand things, it lays no claim on them and asks nothing of them. Call it a small matter. The ten thousand things return to it, thought it lays no claim on them. Call it great.
So the wise soul without great doings achieves greatness.