When goodness is lost, it is replaced by morality.
The Way is ever nameless.
The great Way is all-pervading. It reaches to the left and to the right. All things depend on it with their existence. Still it demands no obedience.
Things exalted then decay. This is going against the Way. What goes against the Way meets an early end.
Correct becomes defect. Good becomes ominous. People’s delusions have certainly lasted long.
Knowing that you do not know is the best. Not knowing that you do not know is an illness.
Truly, only those who see illness as illness can avoid illness.
Misery is what happiness rests upon. Happiness is what misery lurks beneath.
The highest virtue is not virtuous. Therefore it has virtue. The lowest virtue holds on to virtue. Therefore it has no virtue.
The sage knows without traveling, perceives without looking, completes without acting.
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
The biggest in the world is small in its beginning.
If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow them from behind.
The sage has no concern for himself, but makes the concerns of others his own.
Fine words are traded. Noble deeds gain respect. But people who are not good, why abandon them?
In the end, the treasure of life is missed by those who hold on and gained by those who let go.
Lightly given promises must meet with little trust.
The sage acts by doing nothing.
The highest virtue does nothing. Yet, nothing needs to be done. The lowest virtue does everything. Yet, much remains to be done.
Meet the difficult while it is easy.