People in their handlings of affairs often fail when they are about to succeed. If one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning, there will be no failure.

The master observes the world but trusts his inner vision. He allows things to come and go. He prefers what is within to what is without.

Spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.

The hard and mighty lie beneath the ground While the tender and weak dance on the breeze above.

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. Through this I know the advantage of taking no action.

The Wise Man is square but not sharp, honest but not not malign, straight but not severe, bright but not dazzling.

Just remain in the center; watching. And then forget that you are there.

He who defends with love will be secure; Heaven will save him, and protect him with love.

I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any.

Hope and fear are both phantoms that arise from thinking of the self. When we don’t see the self as self, what do we have to fear?

Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish – too much handling will spoil it.

Countless words count less than the silent balance between yin and yang

When wealth and honors lead to arrogancy, this brings its evil on itself.

So the unwanting soul sees what’s hidden, and the ever-wanting soul sees only what it wants.

Do you imagine the universe is agitated? Go into the desert at night and look at the stars. This practice should answer the question.

Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?

Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe.

The reason why the universe is eternal is that it does not live for itself; it gives life to others as it transforms.

There is no disaster greater than not being content; there is no misfortune greater than being covetous.