People are hard to govern. The rulers interfere with too much. That is why people are hard to govern.
He (the sage) is good to those who are good. He is also good to those who are not good. That is the virtue of good.
The sage desires no desire, does not value rare treasures, learns without learning, recovers what people have left behind.
I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any.
Man is ruled by Earth. Earth is ruled by Heaven. Heaven is ruled by the Way. The Way is ruled by itself.
Praise and disgrace cause fear.
A tree as wide as a man's embrace grows from a tiny shoot.
Behave simply and hold on to purity.
Other people have more than they need, I alone seem wanting.
The weak overcomes the strong. The soft overcomes the hard. Everybody in the world knows this, still nobody makes use of it.
Those who are one with deprivation are deprived of deprivation.
There is no greater fault than sensual indulgence. There is no greater misfortune than malcontent. There is no greater calamity than greed.
I am wearied, as if I lacked a home to go to.
Make the small big and the few many.
Stillness is the ruler of haste.
People are difficult to rule, because of their knowledge.
I am at peace, and people become fair by themselves.
All things flourish, and each returns to its source.
What Heaven detests, who knows why? Even the sage considers it difficult.
A multitude of words is tiresome, unlike remaining centered.
High and low rest on each other.
Peace and quiet are preferred. Victory should not be praised.
The world's beginning is its mother. To have found the mother is also to know the children. Although you know the children, cling to the mother. Until your last day you will not be harmed.
Those who defeat others are strong, those who defeat themselves are mighty.
The sage acts by doing nothing.