Tao Te Ching

•The person of superior humaneness takes action, but has no purpose for acting.

This suggests that the person’s actions come from a place of genuine care for others.

•sole etiquette is a source of disorder for a human acts according to it for the sake of external validation, it’s not genuine and not trustworthy 

•wu-wei is not about complete inaction but rather acting in harmony with the natural flow of things

•When someone constantly seeks validation from others, their actions may become motivated by the desire for approval rather than a genuine desire to contribute. This can lead to behaviors that are manipulative, or attention-seeking.

•When the inferior man hears the Way, he laughs at it loudly. If he did not laugh, it would not be fit to be the Way. The laughter signifies a lack of understanding. The Way requires a certain level of insight to truly appreciate and embody its principles.

•Many loves entail great costs, Many riches entail heavy losses. - Having many desires or attachments can come at a high cost. Accumulating great wealth can lead to loss of inner peace.

•one who knows, does not speak; one who speaks does not know

•act before there is a problem; bring order before there is disorder 

•if the sage wants to be above people, he must put himself below them. All under heaven happily push him forward. No one can contend with him 

•a good warrior is not militant; a good fighter does not anger

•The reason why The sage has no defects, Is because he treats defects as defects. Thus, He has no defects.

•The Way of heaven does not war yet is good at conquering, is relaxed yet good at making plans.

•Human beings are soft and supple when alive, stiff and straight when dead. The myriad creatures are soft and fragile when alive, dry and withered when dead. Therefore, it is said: The rigid person is a disciple of death; The soft, supple, and delicate are lovers of life. An army that is inflexible will not conquer; A tree that is inflexible will snap.

•Not putting high value on rare goods

prevents the people from being bandits

•Is this not because he is free of private interests? Therefore, He can accomplish his private interests.

•He whom others fear, likewise cannot but fear others.