Everyone in the world tells me that my Tao is great. But it doesn't look like anything. It's only because it's very great that it doesn't look like anything. If it looked like something, it would have become small a long time ago!
I have three treasures: I hold them and cherish them. The first is called affection; the second is called thrifty; the third is called humility which prevents me from wanting to be the first in the empire.
I have affection, that's why I can be courageous. I have economy, that's why I can be generous. I do not dare to be the first of the empire, that is why I can become the leader of all people.
But today some persons would be brave without affection, would be generous without economy; would compete the first place without humility. This is what leads to death.
With a heart full of affection, if we fight, we win the battle, if we uphold a fort, it is impregnable.
When heaven wants to save a man, it gives him affection to protect him.