Tao te Ching: 15

Of old those who were the best rulers were
subtly mysterious and profoundly penetrating;
Too deep to comprehend.
And because they cannot be comprehended,
I can only describe them arbitrarily:
Cautious, like crossing a frozen stream in the winter,
Being at a loss, like one fearing danger on all sides,
Reserved, like one visiting,
Supple and pliant, like ice about to melt,
Genuine, like a piece of uncarved wood,
Open and broad, like a valley,
Merged and undifferentiated, like muddy water.

Who can make muddy water gradually clear through tranquility?
Who can make the still gradually come to life through activity?
He who embraces this Tao does not want to fill himself
to overflowing.
It is precicely because there is no overflowing that he
is beyond wearing out and renewal.

Who are these of old? There are two words for ruler here, one uses shih which means ruler. Other translations put Tao here. That gives me context to believe that we are talking of older rulers that followed the Tao. That they are subtle and profound adds to that, and perhaps because of that, this translation used shih.

Yet these rulers were much like us in other ways. They were cautious, hesitant, and reserved, but yet they were genuine and open as well. It is only by applying the Tao that their waters settled and the precipitates fell away. It is only by applying the Tao that their activity brings life.

So we can do the same, says Lao Tzu. The tranquility reminds me of meditating, at the moment that has so gradually crept upon me that I do not notice that my distractions have likewise precipitated away many moments before.

Again, we also come to the not overflowing, as in Chapter 9. This reminds me of the middle way in Buddhism.