“The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike.”

“Heaven and Earth (under its guidance) unite together and send down the sweet dew, which, without the directions of men, reaches equally everywhere as of its own accord.”

“The highest excellence is like (that of) water.”

“He who is in harmony with the Taois like a newborn child.Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak,but its grip is powerful.It doesn't know about the unionof male and female,yet its penis can stand erect,so intense is its vital power.It can scream its head off all day,yet it never becomes hoarse,so complete is its harmony.The Master's power is like this.He lets all things come and goeffortlessly, without desire.He never expects results;thus he is never disappointed.He is never disappointed;thus his spirit never grows old.”

“The excellence of a residence is in (the suitability of) the place;”

“And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle (about his low position), no one finds fault with him.”

“All difficult things in the world are sure to arise from a previous state in which they were easy, and all great things from one in which they were small.”