The depth of one’s virtue, meaning having a deep and sincere cultivation of morality, is comparable to that of an infant. The divine and enlightened forces protect those who embody virtue, just as parents do for their infants. Venomous creatures will not sting — bees, scorpions, and snakes will not sting. Fierce beasts will not attack, and giant birds will not strike. An infant does no harm to things, and thus things do no harm to it. Therefore, in a time of great peace, people are without rank or status; with benevolent hearts, even harmful things return to their nature, and venomous creatures do not harm humans. Their bones may be weak and tendons soft, yet they can grasp firmly. Infants have tender sinews and fragile bones but hold objects firmly because their minds are steadfast and unshaken. They do not yet know the union of male and female, yet their vital energy is most refined. Infants who are unaware of the union between men and women but still experience the stirring of yin and yang do so because they possess abundant vital energy. They can cry all day without becoming hoarse, which is due to their supreme harmony.

Infants whose cries remain unchanged from morning until night do so because of the abundance of harmonious energy within them. Knowing harmony is the constant way; if a person can maintain gentle and harmonious energy that benefits others, then they are said to know the constant principle of the Dao. Knowing the constant leads to ever-increasing clarity; if a person understands and follows the constant way of the Dao, then they will gradually attain deeper insight into its profound mysteries. With each day’s growth comes auspiciousness — Xiang means growth — by nurturing life and desiring self-preservation, one grows stronger day by day. When the mind controls vital energy, it becomes increasingly strong; the mind should be focused, harmonious, and gentle, allowing spiritual energy to reside internally, thus resulting in a supple form. But if one instead allows reckless actions and desires, the harmonious energy departs from within, hence the body becomes increasingly rigid and strong. When things reach their peak of strength, they grow old; all things wither and age when they reach the extreme of vigor. It is called going against the Dao; when one becomes withered and aged, one no longer follows the Dao. To go against the Dao is to perish prematurely. Those who do not follow the Dao die early.