The Tao Teh King

the journey of a thousand li commenced with a single step.

The highest excellence is like (that of) water.

He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent.

He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty.

He who is satisfied with his lot is rich;

The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.

Clay is fashioned into vessels; but it is on their empty hollowness, that their use depends.

He who knows (the Tao) does not (care to) speak (about it); he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it.

Man at his birth is supple and weak; at his death, firm and strong.

no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot;

To those who are good (to me), I am good; and to those who are not good (to me), I am also good;--and thus (all) get to be good.

The sage has no invariable mind of his own; he makes the mind of the people his mind.

All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what ugliness is; they all know the skill of the skilful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what the want of skill is.

Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing (of humility), and manifests it to all the world.

The government that seems the most unwise, Oft goodness to the people best supplies; That which is meddling, touching everything, Will work but ill, and disappointment bring.

Therefore the sage desires what (other men) do not desire, and does not prize things difficult to get; he learns what (other men) do not learn, and turns back to what the multitude of men have passed by.

Therefore the sage knows (these things) of himself, but does not parade (his knowledge); loves, but does not (appear to set a) value on, himself.

Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech.

All things spring up, and there is not one which declines to show itself; they grow, and there is no claim made for their ownership; they go through their processes, and there is no expectation (of a reward for the results).

The work is accomplished, and there is no resting in it (as an achievement).

The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves.

The knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a (grand) capacity and forbearance, and that capacity and forbearance lead to a community (of feeling with all things).

It is because he is thus free from striving that therefore no one in the world is able to strive with him.

Therefore the man of skill is a master (to be looked up to) by him who has not the skill; and he who has not the skill is the helper of (the reputation of) him who has the skill.