When there is no desire, all things are at peace
If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow them from behind.
Those who know it do not speak about it. Those who speak about it do not know it.
If Heaven were not clear it might rend. If Earth were not firm it might crumble.
Excellent leaders of people lower themselves.
Letting the mind control the vital breath is called force.
The sage never strives for greatness, and can therefore accomplish greatness.
Is not the action of nature like the stretching of a bow? The high, it pulls down; the low, it lifts up; It takes from what is in excess In order to make good of what is deficient. Who can take what they have in excess and offer it to others?
Why is the tao so valuable? Because it is everywhere, and everyone can use it. This is why those who seek will find, And those who reform will be forgiven; Why the good will be rewarded, And the thief who is cunning will escape.
We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner space that makes it liveable.
The sage does not strive to be great. Thereby he can accomplish the great.
Cultivate virtue in the world, and it will be universal.
Heaven and Earth are not kind. They regard all things as offerings.
When the great Tao is abandoned, benevolence and righteousness arise.
When the world is ruled according to the Way, the ghosts lose their power. The ghosts do not really lose their power, but it is not used to harm people.
True words seem false.
Conquering the world and changing it, I do not think it can succeed.
The highest benevolence acts without purpose.
If you can find true contentment, it will last forever.
The grandest virtue seems deficient.
Heaven's Way is like stretching a bow. The high is lowered and the low is raised. Excess is reduced and deficiency is replenished. Heaven's Way reduces excess and replenishes deficiency. People's Way is not so. They reduce the deficient and supply the excessive.
Who has excess and supplies the world? Only the one who follows the Way.
People take death lightly. They expect too much of life. That is why people take death lightly.
Because he (the Sage) demands no honor, he will never be dishonored.
The Way is empty, yet inexhaustible, like an abyss!
