If you practice inaction, nothing will be left undone: For the way to acquire lordship over society is by invariably not interfering.

He who talks more is sooner exhausted.

The Way that can be walked is not the eternal Way.

If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand. If you want to get rid of something, you must first allow it to flourish. If you want to take something, you must first allow it to be given. This is called the subtler perception of the way things are. The soft overcomes the hard. The slow overcomes the fast. Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results.

Taking things lightly must lead to big difficulties.

When the highest type of people hear Tao (Truth), they diligently practice it. When the average type of people hear Tao, they half believe in it. When the lowest type of people hear Tao, they laugh at it. If they did not laugh, it would not be Tao.

Surrender your self-interest. Love others as much as you love yourself. Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven.