The reason why rivers and seas are able to be lords over a hundred mountain streams, is that they know how to keep below them. That is why they are able to reign over all the mountain streams.

Great indeed is the sublimity of the creative, to which all beings owe their beginning and which permeates all heaven.

I have three treasures that I cherish. The first is compassion. The second is moderation. The third is not claiming to be first in the world.

The truly wise are content to be last. They are, therefore, first. They are indifferent to themselves. They are, therefore self-confident.

Those who are content suffer no disgrace.

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.

There is no greater fault than sensual indulgence. There is no greater misfortune than malcontent. There is no greater calamity than greed.