“Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long.”

“The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves.”

“Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature. A violent wind does not last for a whole morning; a sudden rain does not last for the whole day. To whom is it that these (two) things are owing? To Heaven and Earth. If Heaven and Earth cannot make such (spasmodic) actings last long, how much less can a man!”

“This is how they are able to continue and endure.”

“The space between Heaven and Earth---is it not like a bellows?”

“Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven; Heaven takes it law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its being what it is.”

“May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows?”