A violent wind does not outlast the morning; a squall of rain does not outlast the day. Such is the course of Nature. And if Nature herself cannot sustain her efforts long, how much less can man!

That which offers no resistance, overcomes the hardest substances.

Dignified, like a guest.

The feminine values are the fountain of bliss. Know the masculine, Keep to the feminine.

To rule by knowledge ravages the country.

The best athlete wants his opponent at his best. The best general enters the mind of his enemy. The best businessman serves the communal good. The best leader follows the will of the people. All of the embody the virtue of non-competition. Not that they don't love to compete, but they do it in the spirit of play. In this they are like children and in harmony with the Tao.

Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it.