Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. Those who are skilled (in the Tao) do not dispute (about it); the disputatious are not skilled in it. Those who know (the Tao) are not extensively learned; the extensively learned do not know it.

A sage is skilled at helping people without excluding anyone.

Therefore: In dwelling, choose modest quarters, in thinking, value stillness, in dealing with others, be kind, in choosing words, be sincere, in leading, be just, in working, be competent, in acting, choose the correct timing. Follow these words and there will be no error.

So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind; Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily; Sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness; Sometimes one is up and sometimes down. Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complacency.

My words are very easy to understand and very easy to practice; but there is no one in the world who is able to understand and practice them.

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

To the good I would be good; to the not-good I would also be good, in order to make them good.