Lao Tzu

The softest things in the world override the hardest.

The pursuit of book-learning brings about daily increase. The practice of Tao brings about daily loss.

He who knows others is clever, but he who knows himself is enlightened. He who overcomes others is strong, but he who overcomes himself is mightier still. He is rich who knows when he has enough.

here is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, yet for attacking things that are hard and strong there is nothing that surpasses it, nothing that can take its place.
The soft overcomes the hard; the weak overcomes the strong.

Why are excessive care and great anxiety alike bad for one? The very reason I have anxiety is because I have a body. If I have not body why would I be anxious?
Therefore if he who administers the empire, esteems it as his own body, then he is worthy to be trusted with the empire.

The wise man considereth even

easy things hard, so that even hard things are easy to him.

The Wise Man doth not hoard. The more he giveth, the more he hath; the

more he watereth, the more is he watered himself.

Each being in the universe
returns to the common Source

Others strive for recognition,
I avoid the limelight.
Other people have a purpose;
I alone don’t know.
Indeed, I seem like an idiot;
no mind, no worries.
I drift like a wave on the ocean.
I blow as aimless as the wind.

While others rush about to get things done,
I accept what is offered.
I alone seem foolish,
earning little, spending less.