Take [preventive] action before things happen. Establish order before disorder has begun.
If people are not afraid of dying, why threaten them with death?
The one who can dissolve her mind will suddenly discover the Tao at her feet.
The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth. The named is the mother of all things.
Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.
The way is light and fluid for the man with no preferences.
Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Those who know when to halt are unharmed.
Lightly given promises must meet with little trust.
Greed is costly. Assembled fortunes are lost.
The superior student listens to the Way and follows it closely. The average student listens to the Way and follows some and some not. The lesser student listens to the Way and laughs out loud. If there were no laughter it would not be the Way.
I confess that there is nothing to teach: no religion, no science, no writings which will lead your mind back to Spirit. Today I speak this way, tomorrow that, but always the Path is beyond words and beyond mind.
The great Way is all-pervading. It reaches to the left and to the right. All things depend on it with their existence. Still it demands no obedience.
Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.
Lessen selfishness and restrain desires.
A tree that is unbending, is easily broken.
Every being in the universe is an expression of the Tao. It springs into existence, unconscious, perfect, free, takes on a physical body, lets circumstances complete it. That is why every being spontaneously honors the Tao. The Tao gives birth to all beings, nourishes them, maintains them, cares for them, comforts them, protects them, takes them back to itself, creating without possessing, acting without expecting, guiding without interfering. That is why love of the Tao is in the very nature of things.
The sage regards things as difficult, and thereby avoids difficulty.
Geese are white, crows are black. No argument will change this.
The Great Vessel takes long to complete.
If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you aren't afraid of dying, there is nothing you can't achieve. Trying to control the future is like trying to take the master carpenter's place. When you handle the master carpenter's tools, chances are that you'll cut your hand.
Be humble and you will remain entire. The sages do not display themselves, therefore they shine. They do not approve themselves, therefore they are noted. They do not praise themselves, therefore they have merit. They do not glory in themselves, therefore they excel.
A skillful commander is not overbearing. A skillful fighter does not become angry. A skillful conqueror does not compete with people. One who is skillful in using men puts himself below them. This is called the strength to use men. This is called matching Heaven, The highest principle of old.
The words of truth are always paradoxical. To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
When much virtue is achieved, nothing is not overcome.
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