“If lightning is the anger of the gods, then the gods are concerned mostly about trees.”

“I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any.”

“Respond to anger with virtue. Deal with difficulties while they are still easy. Handle the great while it is still small.”

“A man is born gentle and weak; at his death he is hard and stiff. All things, including the grass and trees, are soft and pliable in life; dry and brittle in death. Stiffness is thus a companion of death; flexibility a companion of life. An army that cannot yield will be defeated. A tree that cannot bend will crack in the wind. The hard and stiff will be broken; the soft and supple will prevail.”

“Possessing rare treasures brings about harmful behavior.”

“he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it.”

“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”