The scholar gains every day; the man of Tao loses every day.
Distortion upon distortion: . . . the more one uses the mind, the more confused one becomes.
A tree that cannot bend will crack in the wind. Thus by nature's own decree, the soft and gentle are triumphant.
When the government is quite unobtrusive, people are indeed pure. When the government is quite prying, people are indeed conniving.
Stay at the center and let all things take their course.
Searching for precious goods leads astray.