We join spokes together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move. We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want. We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner space that makes it livable. We work with being, but non-being is what we use.

The best form of leadership is to be conscious of the leadership potential with the followers and to let them unleash this potential in a spontaneous way. When a great leader accomplishes this task with effortless ease, the followers say, "We did it ourselves."

Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish, too much handling will spoil it.

Those who understand others are clever, those who understand themselves are wise.

A good person is the bad person's teacher. A bad person is the good person's task.

Good words shall gain you honor in the marketplace, but good deeds shall gain you friends among men.

Be content with an ordinary life.