《列子·天瑞》
有生命的事物所呈现出的生命死亡了，但使有生之物产生的本原却没有终止；有形状的事物所呈现出的形状是实在的了，但使有形之物成形的本原却没有出现；有声音的事物所呈现出的声音已经被听到了，但使有声之物发声的本原却没有发声；有颜色的事物所呈现出的颜色显明了，但使有色之物出色的本原却没有显露；有滋味的事物所呈现出的滋味已经被尝到了，但使有味之物出味的本原却没有呈现：这些都是无为的道的作用。
生之所生者死矣，而生生者未尝终；形之所形者实矣，而形形者未尝有；声之所声者闻矣，而声声者未尝发；色之所色者彰矣，而色色者未尝显；味之所味者尝矣，而味味者未尝呈：皆无为之职也。
The living things that show life will die, but the origin that creates living things will not end; the things with form that show form are real, but the origin that forms things with form has not appeared; the things with sound that show sound have been heard, but the origin that makes things with sound make sound has not made sound; the things with color that show color are obvious, but the origin that makes things with color show color has not shown itself; the things with flavor that show flavor have been tasted, but the origin that makes things with flavor show flavor has not shown itself: these are all the actions of the Way without action.