Tao Te Ching

by Lao Tzu

Not to desire material things is to know the freedom of spirituality; and to desire them is to suffer the limitations of matter.

True goodness is like water; it nurtures everything and harms nothing. Like water, it ever seeks the lowest place, the place that all others avoid.

Excessive fortune brings about its own misfortune.

Here are the four fundamentals of true spirituality: recognize simplicity, cherish purity, reduce your possessions, diminish your desires.

It is unnatural to walk on tiptoe. Try to elevate yourself above others, and you will soon fall. Those who display themselves do not shine; those who inflate themselves do not grow; those who assert themselves do not gain merit.

All things contain both the negative principle (yin) and the positive principle (yang). The third principle, energetic vitality (chi), makes them harmonious.

Consider difficulties before they arise, and order things before they become disorganized.

The wise recognize the limits of their knowledge; the foolish think they know everything.