Therefore the Sage, wishing to be above the people, must by his words put himself below them; wishing to be before the people, he must put himself behind them. In this way, though he has his place above them, the people do not feel his weight; though he has his place before them, they do not feel it as an injury. Therefore all mankind delight to exalt him, and weary of him not.

To know and not to do is not yet to know.

Nature's way is simple and easy, but men prefer the intricate and artificial.

People starve. The rulers consume too much with their taxes. That is why people starve.

The hard and stiff are death's companions. The soft and weak are life's companions.

Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil.

Act without striving. Work without interfering. Find the flavour in what is flavourless.