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.

The True Person avoids extremes, self-indulgence, and extravagance.

Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.

All things flourish, and each returns to its source.

The mystical techniques for achieving immortality are revealed only to those who have dissolved all ties to the gross worldly realm of duality, conflict, and dogma. As long as your shallow worldly ambitions exist, the door will not open.

Health is the greatest possession.