He who stands on tiptoe is not steady. He who strides cannot maintain the pace. He who makes a show is not enlightened. He who is self-righteous is not respected. He who boasts achieves nothing. He who brags will not endure. According to followers of the Tao, "These are extra food and unnecessary luggage." They do not bring happiness, therefore followers of the Tao avoid them.

Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water. Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, none can withstand it, because they have no way to change it. So the flexible overcome the adamant, the yielding overcome the forceful. Everyone knows this, but no one can do it.

Live simply and virtuously, true to your nature, drawing no line between what is spiritual and what is not.

To the good I would be good; to the not-good I would also be good, in order to make them good.

There is something obscure which is complete before heaven and earth arose; tranquil, quiet, standing alone without change, moving without peril. It could be the mother of everything. Not knowing its name, I call it Tao.

The Eternal generates the One. The One generates the Two. The Two generates the Three. The Three generates all things.

The one who does not honor the teacher and the one who does not honor the task, although ever so knowledgeable, they are confused.