Lay plans for the accomplishment of the difficult before it becomes difficult; make something big by starting with it when small.

Greed is costly. Assembled fortunes are lost.

Fail to honor people, they fail to honor you.

Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.

Clay is molded to form a cup, But it is on its non-being that the utility of the cup depends. Doors and windows are cut out to make a room, But it is on its non-being that the utility of the room depends. Therefore turn being into advantage, and turn non-being into utility.

The world's beginning is its mother. To have found the mother is also to know the children. Although you know the children, cling to the mother. Until your last day you will not be harmed.

The best people are like water, which benefits all things and does not compete with them. It stays in lowly places that others reject. This is why it is so similar to the Way.