Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it.

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.

Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.

Ambition has one heel nailed in well, though she stretch her fingers to touch the heavens.

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

Nature is not human hearted.

To lead people walk behind them.

Because of a great love, one is courageous.

He who knows himself is enlightened.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.

The career of a sage is of two kinds: He is either honored by all in the world, Like a flower waving its head, Or else he disappears into the silent forest.

The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.

By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning.

The higher the sun ariseth, the less shadow doth he cast; even so the greater is the goodness, the less doth it covet praise; yet cannot avoid its rewards in honours.

All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.

The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end of your days.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.

If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

To see things in the seed, that is genius.

He who talks more is sooner exhausted.

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.

Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.

Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.

Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.

He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.

Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.

He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much.

To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.

He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty.

At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.

Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.

The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.

Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.

How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?

Silence is a source of great strength.

Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.