"The sage is not attached to anything, and so he loses nothing."

"Yield and overcome; Bend and be straight; Empty and be full; Wear out and be new; Have little and gain; Have much and be confused."

"The great square has no corners. The great vessel is never full. The great sound is inaudible. The great image has no form."

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

"The sage, because he does not contend, is therefore without reproach."