The real key to health and happiness and success is self knowledge

Do not conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance. Thorns spring up when an army passes. Years of misery follow a great victory. Do only what needs to be done without using violence.

The good man is the teacher of the bad, And the bad is the material from which the good may learn. He who does not value the teacher, Or greatly care for the material, Is greatly deluded although he may be learned. Such is the essential mystery.

Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good as good only because there is evil. Therefore having and not having arise together. Difficult and easy complement each other. Long and short contrast each other. High and low rest upon each other. Voice and sound harmonize each other. Front and back follow one another.

No misfortune is worse than underestimating the enemy. Underestimating the enemy, I risk losing my treasure.

Can you care for the people and rule the country and not be cunning?

When his (the good ruler's) task is accomplished and his work done, The people all say, "It happened to us naturally.