It is as though he listened and such listening as his enfolds us in silence in which at last we begin to hear what we are meant to be.

Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations. These two spring from the same source but differ in name; this appears as darkness. Darkness within darkness. The gate to all mystery.

Thirty spokes are joined in the wheel's hub. The hole in the middle makes it useful.

Do not conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance. Thorns spring up when an army passes. Years of misery follow a great victory. Do only what needs to be done without using violence.

Without going outside, you may know the whole world, without looking through the window, you may see the ways of heaven. The farther you go, the less you know. Thus the sage knows without traveling; he sees without looking; he works without doing.

The net of heaven is very wide in its meshes, and yet it misses nothing.

When everyone in the world sees beauty, then ugly exists.