Dao 22

"Therefore the sages cling to the one,
and take care of this world
do not display themselves,
and therefore shine
do not assert themselves
and therefore stand out
do not praise themselves
and therefore succeed
are not complacent
and therefore endure
do not contend
and therefore no one under the heaven can contend with them"

This excerpt comes from poem number 22.

This passage addresses the principle of non-action. The Sages know the way of the Tao and are themselves devout followers. Because they follow the Tao, they also have Te. Possessing these traits makes them superior to all who are lost or who stray from the Tao. The Sages have already obtained Tao, the highest possible state, and there is nothing more to obtain. They do not have to take action. What they want to be they already are. They are whole and complete.