"Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking."

"The best way to manage is to manage very little."

"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."

"To know yet to think that one does not know is the highest [attainment]. Not to know yet to think that one knows is a disease."

"When the great Tao is abandoned, there is humanity and righteousness. When wisdom and intelligence appear, there is great hypocrisy."