The reason why the universe is eternal is that it does not live for itself; it gives life to others as it transforms.

The more prohibitions there are, the poorer the people will be. The more laws are promulgated, the more thieves and bandits there will be.

The past has no power to stop you from being present now. Only your grievance about the past can do that. What is grievance? The baggage of old thought and emotion.

Chanting is no more holy than listening to the murmur of a stream, counting prayer beads no more sacred than simply breathing. . . . If you wish to attain oneness with the Tao, don't get caught up in spiritual superficialities.

He who has no faith in others shall find no faith in them.

Since before time and space were, the Tao is. It is beyond is and is not.

Practice not-doing and everything will fall into place.