You should rule a great country As you would fry a small fish- With the least turning.
The True Person governs by emptying the heart of desire and filling the belly with food, weakening ambitions and strengthening bones.
He who regards many things easy will find many difficulties. Therefore the sage regards things difficult, and consequently never has difficulties.
When the effective leader is finished with his work, the people say it happened naturally.
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the various creatures as straw dogs; the sage is ruthless, and treats others as straw dogs.