Tao te Ching: 22

To yield is to be preserved whole.
To be bent is to become straight.
To be empty is to be full.
To be worn out is to be renewed.
To have little is to possess.
To have plenty is to be perplexed.
Therefore the sage embraces The One
And becomes the model of the world.
He does not show himself; therefore he is luminous.
He does not boast of himself; therefore he is given credit.
He does not brag; therefore he can endure for long.
It is precisely because he does not compete that the world
cannot compete with him.
Is the ancient saying, "To yield is to be preserved whole,"
empty words?
Truly he will be preserved and (prominence, etc.) will
come to him.

I have meditated on this passage more than any other in all of Taoism. When I find myself looking for a passage in the Tao, I always come to rest here. This is testable. This is true. This is a principle that I find I can live my life by.

Of course, one may need more than just one principle.

If one did not yield, would he not be broken? One cannot withstand the onslaught of work, life, friends, emotion or any other thing without allowing it to wash over them. The torrent is simply too much and some things must be accommodated or you will simply shatter. You will lose your job, your family, your friends, or even your mind. There are moments.

So it is that bending allows one to become straight after the torrent has passed.

If you have little or if you are empty, you truly own the things that you have. What we think of as lacking is actually very rich. Remember chapter 11—"therefore turn being into advantage, and turn non-being into utility." We can and must be more than we think we are because of lack.

To test the veracity of wearing out, work yourself into exhaustion physically and see if your spirit does not buoy up with the completeness of your work and the satisfaction of your accomplishment.

Yet, we stick to chapter 2 and 3 and do not associate ourselves with our works. We do not boast, brag, or glorify our own works and because of that, they last forever. No one is comfortable with the vainglorious advertisements of those that showcase their works.

This is a hard chapter to write for, because I feel like the explanation isn't necessary. Please write below if you have comments. Selah.