The Tao of the sage is work without effort.

The living are soft and yielding; the dead are rigid and stiff. Living plants are flexible and tender; the dead are brittle and dry.

Gentleness brings victory to him who attacks, and safety to him who defends. Those whom Heaven would save, it fences round with gentleness.

The perfect square lacks corners.

The transformation toward eternal life is gradual. The heavy gross energy of body, mind, and spirit must first be purified and uplifted. When the energy ascends... then self mastery can be sought.

When two opposing sides meet in battle, the one without an enemy will be victorious.

Abandon cleverness, discard profit, and thieves and robbers will disappear.