Dao De Jing

The way that can be spoken is not the eternal Way.
The name that can be named is not the eternal Name.
Nameless, it is the origin of Heaven and Earth;
Named, it is the mother of all things.
Thus, free from desire, one observes its mystery;
With desire, one observes its manifestations.
These two emerge together but differ in name—
Both are called profound.
Profound and ever more profound,
It is the gateway to all wonders. - Laozi

Naming the Unnamable: Laozi on Mystery and Manifestation

By not exalting the worthy, the people are not contentious;
By not valuing rare treasures, the people do not steal;
By not displaying what is desirable, the hearts of the people remain calm.
Therefore, the Sage governs by emptying their minds and filling their bellies,
Weakening their ambitions and strengthening their bones.
He always keeps the people free from knowledge and desire,
And ensures that the clever dare not act.
Practice non-action,
And there is nothing that cannot be governed. - Laozi

Quiet Governance and the Power of Non-Action

The Dao is empty; in use it is never exhausted. Deep and unfathomable, it seems to be the ancestor of the myriad things. It blunts what is sharp, unravels what is tangled, softens its light, and mingles with the dust. Clear and still, it seems to be there. I do not know whose child it is; it appears to have preceded the Lord of Heaven. - Laozi

The Inexhaustible Dao and Its Gentle Power

The Dao is empty; when used, it is never filled. Deep, it seems to be the source of the myriad things. - Laozi

Emptiness as the Inexhaustible Source of Being

Heaven and Earth are not benevolent: they regard the myriad things as straw dogs; the sage is not benevolent: he regards the common people as straw dogs.

Impartial Heaven, Straw Dogs, and the Sage

The valley spirit never dies; it is called the mysterious female. The gate of the mysterious female is called the root of Heaven and Earth. Unceasing, as if it were there; use it, and it never fails. - Laozi

Root of Heaven: The Mysterious Female Gate

Heaven and earth endure. The reason heaven and earth can be long and lasting is that they do not live for themselves; therefore they can long endure. - Laozi

Why Heaven and Earth Endure: Selfless Continuity

The Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching) is a classical Chinese text attributed to Laozi, focusing on the philosophy of Taoism.