Let the country be small, and the inhabitants few.

A follower of the Way (Tao) loses something each day. Loss after loss until arriving at Non Action (Wu Wei).

In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.

The highest virtue does nothing. Yet, nothing needs to be done. The lowest virtue does everything. Yet, much remains to be done.

Creating without claiming, Doing without taking credit, Guiding without interfering, This is Primal Virtue.

The good man is the teacher of the bad, And the bad is the material from which the good may learn. He who does not value the teacher, Or greatly care for the material, Is greatly deluded although he may be learned. Such is the essential mystery.

Heaven's Way does not contend, yet it certainly triumphs. It does not speak, yet it certainly answers. It does not summon, yet things come by themselves. It seems to be at rest, yet it certainly has a plan.