A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.

To bear and not to own; to act and not lay claim; to do the work and let it go: for just letting it go is what makes it stay.

There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontent. And there is no greater disaster than greed.

Keeping plenty of gold and jade in the palace makes no one able to defend it.

The Master keeps her mind always at one with the Tao; that is what gives her her radiance. The Tao is ungraspable. How can her mind be at one with it? Because she doesn't cling to ideas. The Tao is dark and unfathomable. How can it make her radiant? Because she lets it. Since before time and space were, the Tao is. It is beyond is and is not. How do I know this is true? I look inside myself and see.

Let people take death seriously, and not travel far.

Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man's tools. He uses them only when he has no choice.