"The fish trap is for catching fish; once you've caught the fish, you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare is for catching rabbits; once you've caught the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words are f…"

"The sage embraces things as they are, and does not contend with them."

"When you are born, you are soft and weak; when you die, you are hard and stiff. When plants are alive, they are soft and tender; when they are dead, they are dry and brittle. Therefore, the soft and w…"

"If you are content with what you have, you will always have enough."

"The sage is like a mirror. He does not welcome things, nor does he usher them away. He responds to them but does not store them. Therefore, he can triumph over things and not be injured."