The weak overcomes the strong. The soft overcomes the hard. Everybody in the world knows this, still nobody makes use of it.

If lightning is the anger of the gods, then the gods are concerned mostly about trees.

Of the best rulers, The people only know that they exist; the next best they love and praise the next they fear; and the next they revile. When they do not command the people's faith, some will lose faith in them, and then they resort to oaths! But of the best when their task is accomplished, their work done, the people all remark, We have done it ourselves.

The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly.

The words of truth are always paradoxical.

The best soldiers are not warlike; the best fighters do not lose their temper. The greatest conquerors are those who overcome their enemies without strife. The greatest directors of men are those who yield place to others. This is called the Virtue of not striving, the capacity for directing mankind; this is being the compeer of Heaven. It was the highest goal of the ancients.

Seek not happiness too greedily and be not fearful of happiness.