What he saw as One was One, and what he saw as not One was also One... better to forget both and lose oneself in the Tao.

How can speech be so obscured that there should be a distinction of right and wrong? Can we, or can we not, distinguish it from the chirping of young birds?

Like a person whose senses function properly each in its own field but do not cooperate with one another, philosophers emphasize one particular aspect and hold on to it... philosophy is thus cut up and falls apart.

Poetry serves to communicate the hearts and hopes of men.

Reality is ever elusive and formless, all life is constant change.

Perfect kindness does not concern itself with kindness... Kindness that has fixed objects loses its integrity.

The words of arguments are all relative. To reach the absolute, the truth, we have to harmonize opposites and follow their natural evolution.

Fame destroys virtue and easily becomes an evil weapon, only something to beat people down with—not anything that can bring true success.

That which is added to and does not increase, is taken away from and does not decrease... fathomless like the sea, inexhaustible; it sustains and gives life to all creation.

The wise do not rejoice when they succeed or lament when they fail because they know that conditions aren’t constant

Like small hills that pile up and become a mountain, like streams that flow into one another and become a great river; the good leader unites all and makes a unified effort and a unified nation possible

People usually look at things from their personal point of view and therefore miss the truth.

Like water that becomes clear when left alone, the wise make no plans and casually adjust themselves to events.

Learn how to govern your own mind and the universe will take care of itself.

The master uses his skill to harmonize with both sides which makes all things equal. This is called 'walking on two paths at once.'

Destruction of Tao and character in order to strive for humanity and justice—this is the error of the sages.

The sage is full of anxiety and indecision in undertaking anything, and so he is always successful.

If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha.

One is on the way for aeons without leaving his house; one leaves his house without being on the way.

If you have genuine insight, birth and death will not affect you.