Do not conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance. Thorns spring up when an army passes. Years of misery follow a great victory. Do only what needs to be done without using violence.
When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. When the sage is put to use, he becomes the head.
Those who have the courage to dare will perish. Those who have the courage not to dare will live.
The sage desires no desire, does not value rare treasures, learns without learning, recovers what people have left behind.
To delight in conquest is to delight in slaughter.
Praise of power leads to weakness; Love of things leads to loss; The wise one leads by filling people's hearts; He destroys illusion and disturbs those who believe they are wise; He does nothing yet everything happens.
One who is too insistent on his own views, finds few to agree with him.
The Way of Tao is this: It strives not, but conquers; It speaks not, but all is made clear; It summons not, but its house is crowded; It contrives not, but the design is perfect.
The truest sayings are paradoxical.
No thought, no action, no movement, total stillness: only thus can one manifest the true nature and law of things from within and unconsciously, and at last become one with heaven and earth.
From caring comes courage.
The Way to Heaven has no favorites. It is always with the good man.
The skillful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels.
Wise travelers always stop short before they come to danger.
He who is great must make humility his base. He who is high must make lowliness his foundation. Thus, princes and kings in speaking of themselves use the terms "lonely," "friendless," "of small account." Is not this making humility their base?
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.
Those who boast are not respected.
Heaven's Way does not contend, yet it certainly triumphs. It does not speak, yet it certainly answers. It does not summon, yet things come by themselves. It seems to be at rest, yet it certainly has a plan.
When cleverness emerges There is great hypocrisy.
An integral being knows without going, sees without looking, and accomplishes without doing.
The real art of governing consists, so far as possible, in doing nothing.
When great armies go to war, Sorrow is the sole winner.
Let the country be small, and the inhabitants few.
A tree as wide as a man's embrace grows from a tiny shoot.
Man is ruled by Earth. Earth is ruled by Heaven. Heaven is ruled by the Way. The Way is ruled by itself.
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