When merit has been achieved, do not take it to yourself; for if you do not take it to yourself, it shall never be taken from you.

I alone am different from the others, because I am nourished by the great mother.

A man's excellence is like that of water; It benefits all things without striving; It takes to the low places shunned by men. Water is akin to Tao. . . . In all the earth nothing weaker than water, Yet in attacking the hard, nothing superior, Nothing so certain in wearing down strength: There is no way to resist it. Note then: The weak conquer the strong, The yielding outlast the aggressors.

Those who stay where they are will endure.

Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.

If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is dim for the light it gives then all will go well. This is called Acting Naturally.

Those who of old were good practicers of Tao did not use it to make people bright, but rather used it to make them simple.