1. The Dao that can be told of is not the eternal Dao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth. The Named is the mother of all things.

2. [T]he sage manages affairs without action [wu-wei] and spreads doctrines without words. All things arise, and he does not turn away from them. He produces them, but does not take possession of them. He acts, but does not rely on his own ability. He accomplishes his task, but does not claim credit for it. It is precisely because he does not claim credit that his accomplishment remains with him.

3. Do not exalt the worthy, so that the people shall not compete. Do not value goods that are hard to get, so that the people shall not steal. Do not display objects of desire, so that the people’s hearts shall not be disturbed. Therefore in the government of the sage, he keeps their hearts vacuous, fills their bellies, weakens their ambitions, and strengthens their bones. He always causes his people to be without knowledge or desire, and the crafty to be afraid to act. By acting without action, all things will be in order.

8. The best man is like water. Water is good; it benefits all things and does not compete with them. It dwells in lowly places that all disdain. This is why it is so near to the Dao. The best man in his dwelling loves the earth. In his heart, he loves what is profound. In his associations, he loves humanity. In his words, he loves faithfulness. In government, he loves order. In handling affairs, he loves competence. In his activities, he loves timeliness.

11. Thirty spokes are united around the hub to make a wheel, but it is on its non-being [emptiness, absence] that the utility of the carriage depends. Clay is molded to form a utensil, but it is on its non-being that the utility of the utensil depends. Doors and windows are cut out to make a room, but it is on its non-being that the utility of the room depends. Therefore turn being into advantage, and turn non-being into utility.

17. The best rulers are those whose existence is merely known by the people. The next best are those who are loved and praised. The next are those who are feared. And the next are those who are despised. It is only when one does not have enough faith in others that others will have no faith in him.

18. When the great Dao declined, the doctrines of humanity and righteousness arose. When knowledge and wisdom appeared, there emerged great hypocrisy. When the six family relationships are not in harmony, there will be the advocacy of filial piety and deep love to children. When a country is in disorder, there will be praise of loyal ministers.

48. The pursuit of learning is to increase day after day. The pursuit of the Dao is to decrease day after day. It is to decrease and further decrease until one reaches the point of taking no action. No action is undertaken, and yet nothing is left undone. An empire is often brought to order by having no activity. If one likes to undertake activity, he is not qualified to govern the empire.

80. Let there be a small country with few people. Let there be ten times and a hundred times as many utensils, but let them not be used. Let the people value their lives highly and not migrate far. Even if there are ships and carriages, none will ride in them. Even if there are armor and weapons, none will display them. Let the people again knot cords and use them [in place of writing]. Let them relish their food, beautify their clothing, be content with their homes, and delight in their customs. Though neighboring communities overlook one another, and the crowing of cocks and barking of dogs can be heard, yet the people there may grow old and die without ever visiting one another.

Source: Wing-tsit Ch’an, trans. The Way of Lao Tzu (1963).