Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the various creatures as straw dogs; the sage is ruthless, and treats others as straw dogs.
All things in the world come from being. And being comes from non-being.
Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.
Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.
Take care with the end as you do with the beginning
Hold on to the ancient Way to master the present, and to learn the distant beginning.