Reputation should be neither sought nor avoided.

A tree that is unbending, is easily broken.

Understand this if nothing else: spiritual freedom and oneness with the Tao are not randomly bestowed gifts, but the rewards of conscious self-transformation and self-evolution.

The highest virtue is not virtuous. Therefore it has virtue. The lowest virtue holds on to virtue. Therefore it has no virtue.

Whatever is flexible and living will tend to grow; whatever is rigid and blocked will wither and die.

Harmony is called the eternal. Knowing the eternal is called clarity.

It is wisdom to know others. It is enlightenment to know oneself.