Those who are content suffer no disgrace.

Praise leads to weakness. Getting it causes fear, losing it causes fear.

I have no desire to desire, and people become like the uncarved wood by themselves.

When you accurately perceive the fluidity of things, you can also begin to perceive the constancy behind them: the creative, transformative, boundless, immutable Tao.

People are hard to govern. The rulers interfere with too much. That is why people are hard to govern.

Those who know do not speak; Those who speak do not know. Stop up the openings, Close down the doors, Rub off the sharp edges. Unravel all confusion. Harmonize the light, Give up contention: This is called finding the unity of life.

He (the sage) wants all things to follow their own nature, but dares not act.