I have three treasures that I cherish. The first is compassion. The second is moderation. The third is not claiming to be first in the world.

Only he who does not seek to be ahead of others is capable of living in harmony with everyone.

Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.

Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.

To know that you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease.

Since before time and space were, the Tao is. It is beyond is and is not.

The master does his job and then stops. He understands that the universe is forever out of control, and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Tao.