If the Great Way perishes there will morality and duty. When cleverness and knowledge arise great lies will flourish. When relatives fall out with one another there will be filial duty and love. When states are in confusion there will be faithful servants.

Seal the openings, shut the doors, and until your last day you will not be exhausted. Widen the openings, interfere, and until your last day you will not be safe.

For all things difficult to acquire, the intelligent man works with perseverance.

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

The one who is conscious (in Tao) can't speak. The one who can speak is not conscious (centered in Tao)

Knowing that you do not know is the best. Not knowing that you do not know is an illness.

There is a time to go ahead and a time to stay behind. There is a time to breathe easy and time to breathe hard. There is a time to be vigorous and a time to be gentle. There is a time to gather and a time to release. Can you see things as they are And let them be all on their own?