The Tao is like an empty bowl, Which in being used can never be filled up, Fathomless, it seems to be the origin of all things. It blunts all sharp edges, It unties all tangles, It harmonizes all lights, It unites the world into one whole. Hidden in the deeps, […] Read more

By not exalting the talented you will cause the people to cease from rivalry and contention. By not prizing goods hard to get, you will cause the people to cease from robbing and stealing. By not displaying what is desirable, you will cause the people’s hearts to remain undisturbed. Therefore, […] Read more

When all the world recognizes beauty as beauty, this in itself is ugliness. When all the world recognizes good as good, this in itself is evil. Indeed, the hidden and the manifest give birth to each other. Difficult and easy complement each other. Long and short exhibit each other. High […] Read more

Tao can be talked about, but not the Eternal Tao. Names can be named, but not the Eternal Name. As the origin of heaven-and-earth, it is nameless: As “the Mother” of all things, it is nameable. So, as ever hidden, we should look at its inner essence: As always manifest, […] Read more

He who knows men is clever; He who knows himself has insight. He who conquers men has force; He who conquers himself is truly strong. He who knows when he has got enough is rich, And he who adheres assiduously to the path of Tao is a man of steady […] Read more

A good soldier is never agressive; A good fighter is never angry. The best way of conquering an enemy Is to win him over by not antagonizing him. The best way of employing a man Is to serve under him. This is called the virtue of non-striving! This is called […] Read more