“And whether a man dispassionatelySees to the core of lifeOr passionatelySees the surfaceThey are essentially the same”

“Existence is beyond the power of wordsTo define:Terms may be usedBut are none of them absolute.In the beginning of heaven and earth there were no words,Words came out of the womb of matter;And whether a man dispassionatelySees to the core of lifeOr passionatelySees the surface,The core and the surfaceAre essentially the same,Words making them seem differentOnly to express appearance.If name be needed, wonder names them both:From wonder into wonderExistence opens.”

“What is a good man but a bad man's teacher. What is a bad man but a good man's job.”

“Thirty spokes share one hub in non-being lies the use of the cart knead clay to make vessels in non-being lies the use of the vessel cut out doors and windows to make a housetherefore form being comes what is usable and from non-being comes what is essential.”

“A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.”

“Favour and disgrace would seem equally to be feared; honour and great calamity, to be regarded as personal conditions (of the same kind).”

“He who acts (with an ulterior purpose) does harm; he who takes hold of a thing (in the same way) loses his hold.”