First, we must do our own personal work, then we tend the necessary work of our family, then our community, then the world.

Take care with the end as you do with the beginning

When superior people hear of the Way, they carry it out with diligence. When middling people hear of the Way, it sometimes seems to be there, sometimes not. When lesser people hear of the Way, they ridicule it greatly. If they didn't laugh at it, it wouldn't be the Way.

People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge.

As it acts in the world, the Tao is like the bending of a bow. The top is bent downward; the bottom is bent up. It adjusts excess and deficiency so that there is perfect balance.

People take death lightly. They expect too much of life. That is why people take death lightly.

Give up learning, and put an end to your troubles.