The Sayings of Lao Tzu

here is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, yet for attacking things that are hard and strong there is nothing that surpasses it, nothing that can take its place.
The soft overcomes the hard; the weak overcomes the strong.

He who knows others is clever, but he who knows himself is enlightened. He who overcomes others is strong, but he who overcomes himself is mightier still. He is rich who knows when he has enough.

The pursuit of book-learning brings about daily increase. The practice of Tao brings about daily loss.

The softest things in the world override the hardest.

Keep behind, and you shall be put in front; keep out, and you shall be kept in.