To conquer others is to have power, to conquer yourself is to know the way.

Reputation should be neither sought nor avoided.

Lay plans for the accomplishment of the difficult before it becomes difficult; make something big by starting with it when small.

The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.

A follower of the Way (Tao) loses something each day. Loss after loss until arriving at Non Action (Wu Wei).

Act without expectation.

Stillness overcomes heat.