First, Master Yourself

“Those who know others are intelligent;

Those who know themselves have insight.

Those who master others have force;

Those who master themselves have .”

Return to Simplicity

“Discard the sacred, abandon strategies;

The people will benefit a hundredfold.”

The Deeper the Loss

“The stronger the attachments,

The greater the cost.

The more that is hoarded,

The deeper the loss.”

Harmonize with Muddy Water

“Who can harmonize with muddy water,

And gradually arrive at ?

Who can move with stability,

And gradually bring endurance to life?”

Surrender Yourself

Blue mushroom

yourself humbly;

then you can be trusted to care for all things.

the world as your own self;

then you can truly care for all things.”

To Act is to Teach

Lower Antelope Canyon

“In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.

In speech, be true.

In ruling, be just.”

Act Without Force

FLOWING WATER, STRANDED LEAVES

“The never acts with ,

yet there is nothing it cannot do.

If rulers could follow the way of the Tao,

then all of creation would willingly follow their example.”

Self Interest

enchanting bagasbas

“Evolved individuals put themselves last, and yet they are first.

They put themselves outside, and yet they remain.

Is it not because they are without that their interests succeed?”

Perceive the Subtlety

white moth

“Without expectation, one will always perceive the subtlety;

With expectation, one will always perceive the boundary.”