The best people are like water, which benefits all things and does not compete with them. It stays in lowly places that others reject. This is why it is so similar to the Way.

Governing a large state is like boiling a small fish.

People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge.

Mask your brightness. Be at one with the dust of the earth. This is primal union.

A good person is the bad person's teacher. A bad person is the good person's task.

Meet the difficult while it is easy.

Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.