Verily God does not reward man for what he does, but for what he is.

An archer competing for a clay vessel shoots effortlessly, his or her skill and concentration unimpeded. If the prize is changed to a brass ornament, the hands begin to shake. If it is changed to gold, he or she squints as if going blind. The abilities do not deteriorate, but belief in them does, as he or she allows the supposed value of an external reward to cloud the vision.

Do not struggle. Go with the flow of things, and you will find yourself at one with the mysterious unity of the Universe.

The torch of doubt and chaos, this is what the sage steers by.

To be truly ignorant, be content with your own knowledge.

Paraphrased: When Chuang Tzu was about to die, his disciples began planning a splendid funeral. However some disciples expressed concern that given a particular arrangement, birds and kites would eat his remains. Chuang Tzu replied, "Well, above ground I shall be eaten by crows and kites, below it by ants and worms. What do you have against birds?

The living all find death unpleasant; men mourn over it. And yet, what is death, but the unbending of the bow and its return to its case?