Man at his birth is supple and tender, but in death, he is rigid and hard. Thus, suppleness and tenderness accompany life, but rigidity and hardness accompany death.

The sage does not act and therefore does not fail, does not seize and therefore does not lose.

Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.

Force is followed by loss of strength. This is not the way of the Tao. That which goes against the Tao comes to an early end.

Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.

With that gentleness I can be bold; with that economy I can be liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, I can become a vessel of the highest honour.

Without law or compulsion, men would dwell in harmony.