What Heaven detests, who knows why? Even the sage considers it difficult.

My words have an origin. My deeds have a sovereign. Truly, because people do not understand this, they do not understand me.

The sage avoids extremity, excess, and extravagance.

Be merciful, moderate, and modest.

Things flourish, then each returns to its root. Returning to the root is called stillness: Stillness is called return to life, return to life is called the constant; knowing the constant is called enlightenment.

The Tao which you know is not the eternal Tao

Nothing and no one in the world is valuable or worthless.