If there is existence, there must be non-existence. And if there was a time when nothing existed, there must have been a time before that - when even nothing did not exist. Suddenly, when nothing came into existence, could one really say whether it belonged to the category of existence or non-existence?

I know the joy of fishes in the river through my own joy, as I go walking along the same river.

The perfect man of old looked after himself first before looking to help others.

The wise man knows that it is better to sit on the banks of a remote mountain stream than to be emperor of the whole world.

Those who realise their folly are not true fools.

When he tries to extend his power over objects, those objects gain control of him. He who is controlled by objects loses possession of his inner self... Prisoners in the world of object, they have no choice but to submit to the demands of matter! They are pressed down and crushed by external forces: fashion, the market, events, public opinion. Never in a whole lifetime do they recover their right mind!... What a pity!

...the ten thousand things belong to one storehouse and life and death share the same body.