I let go of all desire for the common good, and the good becomes as common as the grass.

The valley spirit never dies. It is called the mystical female.

People are hard to govern. The rulers interfere with too much. That is why people are hard to govern.

Therefore the Sage embraces Unity, and is a model for all under Heaven. He is free from self-display, therefore he shines forth; from self-assertion, therefore he is distinguished; from self-glorification, therefore he has merit; from self-exaltation, therefore he rises superior to all. Inasmuch as he does not strive, there is no one in the world who can strive with him.

The Eternal generates the One. The One generates the Two. The Two generates the Three. The Three generates all things.

The Tao is like a well; used but never used up.

The wise person dines on something more subtle: He eats the understanding that the named was born from the unnamed, that all being flows from non-being, that the describable world emanates from an indescribable source.