Governing a large state is like boiling a small fish.

The sage never strives for greatness, and can therefore accomplish greatness.

Approach the universe with Tao, And evil will have no power. Not that evil is not powerful, But its power will not be used to harm others.

In the world there are four greats, and the king is one of them.

Those who know when to halt are unharmed.

Seeing the small is called clarity.

A man's excellence is like that of water; It benefits all things without striving; It takes to the low places shunned by men. Water is akin to Tao. . . . In all the earth nothing weaker than water, Yet in attacking the hard, nothing superior, Nothing so certain in wearing down strength: There is no way to resist it. Note then: The weak conquer the strong, The yielding outlast the aggressors.