The life-force of the valley never dies--This is called the dark female.The gateway of the dark female--This is called the root of the world.Wispy and delicate, it only seems to be there,Yet its productivity is bottomless.

This world has no need for weapons,Which soon turn on themselves.Where armies camp, nettles grow;After each war, years of famine.The most fruitful outcomeDoes not depend on force,But succeeds without arroganceWithout hostilityWithout prideWithout resistanceWithout violence.

Rushing into action, you fail.Trying to grasp things, you lose them.Forcing a project to completion,you ruin what was almost ripe.Therefore the Master takes actionby letting things take their course.He remains as calm at the end as at the beginning.He has nothing,thus has nothing to lose.What he desires is non-desire;what he learns is to unlearn.He simply reminds peopleof who they have always been.He cares about nothing but the Tao.Thus he can care for all things.

One gains by losing and loses by gaining.

To bear and not to own; to act and not lay claim; to do the work and let it go: for just letting it go is what makes it stay.

Practice non-action.Work without doing.Magnify the small;increase the few.Reward bitterness with care.

Stillness and tranquility set things in order in the universe.

If you show yourself, you will not be seen. If you affirm yourself, you will not shine.

He who defines himself can't know who he really is.He who has power over others can't empower himself.