The more laws and orders are multiplied, the more theft and violence increase.

Who is there who can make muddy waters clear? But if allowed to remain still, it will gradually clear itself.

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

The great Way is very straight, but people prefer to deviate.

He who, conscious of being strong, is content to be weak, he shall be the paragon of mankind. Being the paragon of mankind, Virtue will never desert him. He returns to the state of a little child.

The sage never strives for the great, and thereby the great is achieved.

The Tao is infinite, eternal. Why is it eternal? It was never born; thus it can never die. Why is it infinite? It has no desires for itself; thus it is present for all beings. The Master stays behind; that is why she is ahead. She is detached from all things; that is why she is one with them. Because she has let go of herself, she is perfectly fulfilled.