Do not conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance. Thorns spring up when an army passes. Years of misery follow a great victory. Do only what needs to be done without using violence.

The things that have acquired unity are these: Heaven by unity has become clear; Earth by unity has become steady; The Spirit by unity has become spiritual; The Valley by unity has become full; All things by unity have come into existence.

It is because every one tinder Heaven recognizes beauty as beauty that the idea of ugliness exists.

If princes and kings were not exalted they might be overthrown.

To know one's ignorance is the best part of knowledge.

Prepare for the difficult while it is still easy. Deal with the big while it is still small. Difficult undertakings have always started with what easy. Great undertakings always started with what is small. Therefore the sage never strives for the great,And thereby the great is achieved.

All men desire to free themselves solely from death; they do not know how to free themselves from life.