When a country is in harmony with the Tao, the factories make trucks and tractors. When a country goes counter to the Tao, warheads are stockpiled outside the cities. There is no greater illusion than fear, no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself, no greater misfortune than having an enemy. Whoever can see through all fear will always be safe.

From What-is all the world of things was born But What-is sprang in turn from What-is-not.

Goodness in words creates trust, goodness in thinking creates depth, goodness in giving creates love.

Once upon a time a man whose ax was missing suspected his neighbor's son. The boy walked like a thief, looked like a thief and spoke like a thief. But the man found his ax while digging in the valley, and the next time he saw his neighbor's son, the boy walked, looked and spoke like any other child.

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.

He who has no faith in others shall find no faith in them.

The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.