"No thought, no action, no movement, total stillness: only thus can one manifest the true nature and law of things... and at last become one with heaven and earth."

"The Way is ever without action, yet nothing is left undone."

"He (the sage) wants all things to follow their own nature, but dares not act."

"The sage puts his person last, and it comes first. He treats his person as an outsider, and it is preserved."

"Careful, like crossing a river in the winter. Wary, as if surrounded by strangers."