Accept disgrace willingly... Accept being unimportant... Surrender yourself humbly; then you can be trusted to care for all things. Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things.

I have no desire to desire, and people become like the uncarved wood by themselves.

Arms are instruments of ill omen.... When one is compelled to use them, it is best to do so without relish. There is no glory in victory, and to glorify it despite this is to exult in the killing of men.... When great numbers of people are killed, one should weep over them with sorrow. When victorious in war, one should observe mourning rites.

When the world is ruled according to the Way, the ghosts lose their power. The ghosts do not really lose their power, but it is not used to harm people.

In ancient times, those who followed the Way did not try to give people knowledge thereof, but kept them ignorant.

The sage honors his part of the settlement, but does not exact his due from others.

Strong winds do not last all morning, hard rains do not last all day.