When great armies go to war, Sorrow is the sole winner.

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.

He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty.

Things are not worth attending to, yet they have to be attended to.

The superior student listens to the Way and follows it closely. The average student listens to the Way and follows some and some not. The lesser student listens to the Way and laughs out loud. If there were no laughter it would not be the Way.

Only fools seek power, and the greatest fools seek it through force.

Those who praise victory relish manslaughter. Those who relish manslaughter cannot reach their goals in the world.