If you overesteem great men, people become powerless. If you overvalue possessions, people begin to steal. The Master leads by emptying people's minds and filling their cores, by weakening their ambition and toughening their resolve. He helps people lose everything they know, everything they desire, and creates confusion in those who think that they know. Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place.

When you extend your goodwill in every direction, regardless of circumstances, you begin to see that we are all one.

By the accident of fortune a man may rule the world for a time, but by virtue of love and kindness he may rule the world forever.

Those who know when to halt are unharmed.

Nature is not anthropomorphic.

The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors. It is through this that they suffer famine.

Weapons are not proper instruments for gentle people; they use them only when they have no other choice. Peace and quiet are what they value. They do not glory in victory.