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.

Meet the difficult while it is easy.

When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

Take [preventive] action before things happen. Establish order before disorder has begun.

By not claiming to be first in the world one can rule.

The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors. It is through this that they suffer famine.

If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself, if you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.