The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect can be won with good deeds; but the Tao is beyond all value, and no one can achieve it. Thus, when a new leader is chosen, don't offer to help him with your wealth or your expertise. Offer instead to teach him about the Tao. Why did the ancient Masters esteem the Tao? Because, being one with the Tao, when you seek, you find; and when you make a mistake, you are forgiven. That is why everybody loves it.

Praise and disgrace cause fear.

The one who is conscious (in Tao) can't speak. The one who can speak is not conscious (centered in Tao)

To see things in the seed, that is genius.

To conquer others is to have power, to conquer yourself is to know the way.

I let go of all desire for the common good, and the good becomes as common as the grass.

The sage never strives for the great, and thereby the great is achieved.