The more sharp weapons people have in a country, the bigger the disorder will be.
Hold on to the great image, and the whole world follows, follows unharmed, content and completely at peace.
Meet the big while it is small.
Meet the difficult while it is easy.
The rigid and big belong below. The soft and weak belong above.
Taking things lightly must lead to big difficulties.
They can see their neighbors. Roosters and dogs can be heard from there. Still, they will age and die without visiting one another.
Praise leads to weakness. Getting it causes fear, losing it causes fear.
If people live in constant fear of death, and if breaking the law is punished by death, then who would dare?
Filling all the way to the brim is not as good as halting in time.
The female always surpasses the male with stillness. In her stillness she is yielding.
If a great country yields to a small country, it will conquer the small country. If a small country yields to a great country, it will be conquered by the great country.
Can you love or guide someone without any kind of expectation?
Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.
What's the difference between yes and no?
What's the difference between beautiful and ugly?
Abandon benevolence, discard duty, and people will return to the family ties.
He (the Sage) does not show off, therefore he shines.
The virtuous carry out the settlement, but those without virtue pursue their claims.
When the government is quite unobtrusive, people are indeed pure. When the government is quite prying, people are indeed conniving.
The Way is hidden and nameless. Still only the Way nourishes and completes.
When good thing are accomplished, it does not claim (or name) them. This is Te, which is close in meaning to power or virtue. It is something within a person, and it is enhanced by following the Tao, or 'that from which nothing can deviate'.
Without stepping out the door, you can know the world.
Yielding is the manner of the Way.
The light of the Way seems dim.
