Humility and selflessness in the Tao

Truthful words are not embellished; embellished words are not truthful.
The virtuous do not engage in disputes; those skilled in debate may lack virtue.
The wise do not seek superficial breadth; the seemingly erudite may lack true wisdom.
The sage accumulates nothing, yet the more they give to others, the more they possess; the more they offer, the more abundant they become.
The Way of Heaven benefits all without harm; the Way of the sage acts without contention.

Commentary:
This passage comes from Chapter 81 of the Dao De Jing, the final chapter of the text. Through dialectical contrasts, it reveals the core of Daoist thought: valuing authenticity, humility, and selflessness, while opposing ostentation, contention, and possessiveness. It emphasizes that true wisdom lies in aligning with the natural order ("the Way of Heaven"), adopting an attitude of "benefiting without harming" (利而不害) and "acting without contending" (为而不争). This embodies the philosophical realm of "non-action leading to all actions being accomplished" (无为而无不为, wu wei er wu bu wei), where harmony with nature transcends forced effort.

Notes:
1. Terms like "the Way of Heaven" (天之道) and wu wei (无为) are preserved in transliteration to maintain cultural specificity.
2. The paradoxical phrasing (e.g., "the more they give, the more they possess") reflects the原文's intentional contradictions, central to Daoist dialectics.
3. The commentary contextualizes the text within Daoist philosophy while clarifying its ethical and metaphysical implications.

This translation balances fidelity to the原文's poetic structure with clarity for modern readers, retaining the essence of Laozi's teachings on humility, natural harmony, and effortless virtue.