What’s most straight appears devious;The greatest skill appears clumsiness;The greatest eloquence see***ike stuttering.大直若屈，大巧若拙，大辩若讷。

The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes the hardest; that which has no substantial existence enters where there is no crevice. I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing with a purpose天下之至柔，驰骋天下之至坚。无有入无间。吾是以知无为之有益。

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. 天长地久。天地所以能长且久者，以其不自生，故能长久。

Great space has no corners;Great talent takes long to mature;Great music is faintly heard;Great form has no contour.大方无隅，大器晚成，大音希声；大象无形

Of the best rulers The people (only) know that they exist; The next best they love and praise;The next they fear;And the next they revile.太上，不知有之；其次，亲而誉之；其次，畏之；其次，侮之。——《道德经》第十七章

All the streamlets flow towards the river and the sea,because the latter takes the lower positions,hence the latter becomes the king of countless valleys.江海所以能为百谷王者，以其善下之，故能为百谷王。——《道德经》第六十六章，辜正坤译

The brave soldier is not violent;The good fighter does not lose his temper;The great conqueror does not fight (on small issues);The good user of men places himself below others.善为士者，不武。善战者，不怒。善胜敌者，不与。善用人者，为之下。——《道德经》第六十八章，林语堂译

To yield is to be preserved whole.To be bent is to become straight.To be hollow is to be filled.To be tattered is to be renewed.To be in want is to possess.To have plenty is to be confused.曲则全，枉则直，洼则盈，敝则新，少则得，多则惑。——《道德经》

Which do you love better,fame or life?Which do you like more,health or wealth?Which will do you more harm,gain or loss?The more you love,the more you spend.The more you store up,the more you lose.名与身孰亲？身与货孰多？得与亡孰病？是故，甚爱必大费，多藏必厚亡。—《道德经》

Gentleness overcomes strength.Fish should be left in the deep pool,and sharp weapons of the state should be left where none can see them.柔弱胜刚强。鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器，不可以示人。——《道德经》

A houseful of gold and jade cannot be safeguarded.Arrogrance of wealth and power will bring ruin.Withdrawl after success conforms to the divine law.金玉满堂，莫之能守。富贵而骄，自遗其咎。功成身退，天之道也。——《道德经》第九章，

One is the child of the divine law.After one come two,after two come three,after three come all things.Everything has a bright and dark side,co-existent in harmony.道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物。万物负阴而抱阳，冲气以为和——《道德经》

When the highest type of men hear the Tao ,they try hard to live in accordance with it.When the mediocre type hear the Tao,they seem to be aware and yet unaware of it.When the lowest type hear the Tao,They break into loud laughter上士闻道勤而行之中士闻道若存若亡下士闻道大笑之

Others have taught this maxim,which I shall teach also:"The violent man shall die a violent death."This I shall regard as my spiritual teacher人之所教，我亦教之：“强梁者不得其死”，吾将以为教父。——《道德经》第四十二章，林语堂译