You should rule a great country As you would fry a small fish- With the least turning.

The reason for great distress is the body. Without it, what distress could there be?

What is strong and rigid is snapped and laid low. What is flexible and soft will always prevail.

Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.

The way of heaven is to help and not harm.

The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors. It is through this that they suffer famine.

Some have lavish garments, carry sharp swords, and feast on food and drink. They possess more than they can spend. This is called the vanity of robbers. It is certainly not the Way.