"The best rulers are those whose existence is barely known by the people."

"The highest virtue does nothing. Yet, nothing needs to be done. The lowest virtue does everything. Yet, much remains to be done."

"The more laws and ordinances are promulgated, the more thieves and bandits there will be."

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

"The sage puts his own person last, and yet is found in the foremost place."