The highest excellence is like (that of) water.
Legge explains that the excellence of water is “in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving, the low place which all men dislike”. Brackets in his text mark words supplied by the translator.
He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent.
The journey of a thousand li commenced with a single step.
The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp, / The Man’s the gowd for a’ that.