The sage does not strive to be great. Thereby he can accomplish the great.
What resists, persists.
The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout.
Only fools seek power, and the greatest fools seek it through force.
There is something obscure which is complete before heaven and earth arose; tranquil, quiet, standing alone without change, moving without peril. It could be the mother of everything. Not knowing its name, I call it Tao.
The soft and weak can overcome the hard and strong.