By moderation one can be generous.
Moderation means prevention. Prevention means achieving much virtue.
The more laws that are written, the more criminals are produced.
Hold on to the ancient Way to master the present, and to learn the distant beginning.
The sage is not ill, because he sees illness as illness.
The Master's power is like this. He lets all things come and go effortlessly, without desire. He never expects results; thus he is never disappointed. He is never disappointed; thus his spirit never grows old.
Misery is what happiness rests upon. Happiness is what misery lurks beneath.
Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.
When family ties are disturbed, devoted children arise.
That which offers no resistance, overcomes the hardest substances.
No disaster is worse than being discontented.
Not valuing wealth prevents theft.
The highest tone is hard to hear.
Filling life exceedingly is called ominous.
Approach your own inner life with a loving quality that accepts who you are without trying to change who you are.
The sage is sharp but does not cut, pointed but does not pierce, forthright but does not offend, bright but does not dazzle.
Displaying riches and titles with pride brings about one's downfall.
See others as yourself. See families as your family. See towns as your town. See countries as your country. See worlds as your world.
He who knows himself is enlightened.
What is well planted will not be uprooted.
When much virtue is achieved, nothing is not overcome.
Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.
What people loathe the most is to be orphaned, desolate, unworthy. But this is what princes and kings call themselves.
All men desire to free themselves solely from death; they do not know how to free themselves from life.
When wisdom and knowledge appear, great pretense arises.
