道德經
Tao Teh Ching
Chapter Eleven

Translated Autumn 1991

Thirty spokes converge upon a single hub;
The hole in the center permits the cart its function.

Boundaries of clay form a vessel;
The empty space permits the container its function.

Creating a door or window gives access to an empty space;
The emptiness of the space is what provides its function.

The reason these things are useful is that
What they lack is what makes them useful.

   – Lao Tzu (translation: Pez)
Copyright © 1991 Daniel Joseph Pezely
May be licensed via Creative Commons Attribution.