He whose conquest is not conquered again, into whose conquest no one in this world enters, by what track can you lead him, the Awakened, the Omniscient, the trackless?
Let no man think lightly of evil, saying in his heart, It will not come nigh unto me Even by the falling of water-drops a water-pot is filled; the fool becomes full of evil, even i...
They who preserve this method of the Tao do not wish to be full (of themselves) It is through their not being full of themselves that they can afford to seem worn and not appear ne...
He who acts (with an ulterior purpose) does harm; he who takes hold of a thing (in the same way) loses his hold The sage does not act (so), and therefore does no harm; he does not...
Stop the stream valiantly, drive away the desires, O Brahmana! When you have understood the destruction of all that was made, you will understand that which was not made
When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe When wealth and honours lead to arrogancy, this brings its evil on itself When the work is done, and one's n...
(Those who) possessed in the highest degree those attributes did nothing (with a purpose), and had no need to do anything (Those who) possessed them in a lower degree were (always)...
Gentleness is sure to be victorious even in battle, and firmly to maintain its ground Heaven will save its possessor, by his (very) gentleness protecting him
He whose thirst running towards pleasure is exceeding strong in the thirty-six channels, the waves will carry away that misguided man, viz his desires which are set on passion
The thirty spokes unite in the one nave; but it is on the empty space (for the axle), that the use of the wheel depends Clay is fashioned into vessels; but it is on their empty hol...
The Awakened call patience the highest penance, long-suffering the highest Nirvana; for he is not an anchorite (pravragita) who strikes others, he is not an ascetic (sramana) who i...
, A man is not a Muni because he observes silence (mona, ie mauna), if he is foolish and ignorant; but the wise who, taking the balance, chooses the good and avoids evil, he is a M...
He who formerly was reckless and afterwards became sober, brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds
Wherever a host is stationed, briars and thorns spring up In the sequence of great armies there are sure to be bad years
If a man's thoughts are unsteady, if he does not know the true law, if his peace of mind is troubled, his knowledge will never be perfect
Scholars of the highest class, when they hear about the Tao, earnestly carry it into practice Scholars of the middle class, when they have heard about it, seem now to keep it and n...
But they whose whole watchfulness is always directed to their body, who do not follow what ought not to be done, and who steadfastly do what ought to be done, the desires of such w...
The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour All things alike go through their processes of activity, and (th...
Thy life has come to an end, thou art come near to death (Yama), there is no resting-place for thee on the road, and thou hast no provision for thy journey
A wise and good man who knows the meaning of this, should quickly clear the way that leads to Nirvana Miscellaneous
Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves This i...
Silently I endured abuse as the elephant in battle endures the arrow sent from the bow: for the world is ill-natured. They lead a tamed elephant to battle, the king mounts a tamed...
He who says what is not, goes to hell; he also who, having done a thing, says I have not done it After death both are equal, they are men with evil deeds in the next world
Many men whose shoulders are covered with the yellow gown are ill-conditioned and unrestrained; such evil-doers by their evil deeds go to hell
I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Tao (the Way or Course) Making an effort (further) to give it a name I call it The Great
Death carries off a man who is gathering flowers and whose mind is distracted, as a flood carries off a sleeping village
The best of ways is the eightfold; the best of truths the four words; the best of virtues passionlessness; the best of men he who has eyes to see. This is the way, there is no othe...
Constant action overcomes cold; being still overcomes heat Purity and stillness give the correct law to all under heaven
The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways
Music and dainties will make the passing guest stop (for a time) But though the Tao as it comes from the mouth, seems insipid and has no flavour, though it seems not worth being lo...