The Tao Te Ching is an important piece of Chinese philosophical literature.  It was supposedly written between the 8^th and 3^rd centuries B.C.E. by Lao Tsu, according to the Merriam Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature.  This book contains short poems that present a way of life intended to restore harmony and tranquility to the world.  There have been many interpretations of this ancient work due to its elusiveness and mysterious overtones.  The poems are all centered on following the “Tao” or the “Way.”  The following verse from The Tao Te Ching is entitled “Quiet,” and is followed by my interpretation of the text.

 
Great Perfection seems incomplete,
But does not decay;
Great abundance seems empty,
But does not fail.

Great truth seems contradictory;
Great cleverness seems stupid;
Great eloquence seems awkward.

As spring overcomes the cold,

And autumn overcomes the heat,
So calm and quiet overcome the world.
 

I think the first stanza is referring to the Way because the Way does not decay or fail, although it at times may seem incomplete or empty.  The Way is dependent upon what people put into it.  The second stanza describes three opposites.  Opposites are a vital component of Taoism, as seen in the yin-yang symbol.  This important Chinese symbol describes how opposite forces are interconnected in the natural world.  Cleverness is the opposite of stupidity and eloquence is the opposite of awkwardness.  In reality, the world cannot survive with only one component of the opposite because we must have both to achieve the balance sought by the Way.  For instance, we cannot have light without dark. 

 The first line of the verse reads, “Great perfection seems incomplete, but does not decay.”  Part of striving for perfection is searching for the parts of our lives or our goals that are incomplete.  The Way encourages us to do this, but in a calm and relaxed manner.  The third stanza describes a cycle, and cycles are another important aspect of Taoism.  Spring overcomes the cold of winter, and autumn overcomes the heat of summer.  This is an important cycle in our world that does not vary.  There will always be fall after summer and spring after winter.  This cycle flows like a river from one season directly into the next.  The last sentence, “so calm and quiet overcome the world,” is a significant principle of Taoism.  Going about our lives in a relaxed manner is very important.  The Way encourages us to see the world in this way.  If calm and quiet did not overcome the world, our everyday lives would become chaotic, which goes against Taoist principles.  By following the Way, the world will become more orderly and less chaotic, perhaps how it was at the time The Tao Te Ching was written.