the short of it:
Greatness comes from non-greatness.
34. How to Bear Success.
Great Tau is all-pervading. It can be on the right hand and also at the same time on the left. All things wait upon it for life, and it refuses none. When its meritorious work is done, it takes not the name of merit. In love it nourishes all things, and does not lord it over them. It is ever free from ambitious desires. It may be named with the smallest. All things return home to it, and it does not lord it over them. It may be named with the greatest.
This is how the wise [person], to the last, does not make [themselves] great, and therefore [they are] able to achieve greatness.
34. The Perfection of Trust.
Great Tao is all pervading! It can be on both the right hand and the left. Everything relies upon it for their existence, and it does not fail them. It acquires merit but covets not the title. It lovingly nourishes everything, but does not claim the rights of ownership. It has no desires, it can be classed with the small. Everything returns to it, yet it does not claim the right of ownership. It can be classed with the great.
Therefore the wise [person] to the end will not pose as a great [person], and by doing so will express [their] true greatness.
34. (Untitled).
Great Tao flows everywhere, It extends to the left and to the right. All beings receive It in order to live and be free. It works out perfectness in them although It possesses not a Name. It protects them with love and sustains them, but does not claim to be Ruler of their actions. Always seeking the innermost, you may say that Its Name is in the Small. All beings return again into It, yet It does not claim to be Ruler of their actions. You may say that Its Name is in the Great.
That is why, to the end of [their] life, the self-controlled [person] is not great in action, Thus [they are] able to perfect [their] greatness.
the long of it:
Greatness doesn’t occur intentionally. It’s grows naturally from non-greatness, and is great only by comparison.
The easiest way to understand Chapter 34 is by comparison. Governments today function on the premise that human nature is inherently flawed (not great) and in constant need of supervision (great). Not so for the taoist, who understands that everything happens for a reason. If people are not great, it’s for a reason that has nothing to do with their inherent greatness (see Chap 38).
In other words, the Tao of nature accounts for everybody and everything, no matter how they are labeled. Anybody can have access to greatness at any time, they just have to step up to the plate. However, this is especially important for public officials since they are responsible for so many others. Hence the sage as a running character throughout the Tao Te Ching.
-TB
