When you accurately perceive the fluidity of things, you can also begin to perceive the constancy behind them: the creative, transformative, boundless, immutable Tao.

To understand the limitation of things, desire them.

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.

The softest in the world surpasses the hardest in the world.

Understanding others is knowledge, Understanding oneself is enlightenment; Conquering others is power, Conquering oneself is strength.

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

The True Person avoids extremes, self-indulgence, and extravagance.