“Men do not mirror themselves in running water – they mirror themselves in still water. Only what is still can still the stillness of other things.”

Study is to study what cannot be studied. Undertaking means undertaking what cannot be undertaken. Philosophizing is to philosophize about what cannot be philosophized about. Knowing that knowing is unknowable is true perfection.

The eye is a menace to clear sight, the ear is a menace to subtle hearing, the mind is a menace to wisdom, every organ of the senses is a menace to its own capacity.

The World is Large – Its beauty indescrible.

The sage has the sun and moon by his side and the universe under his arm. He blends everything into a harmonious whole. . . . He blends the disparities of ten thousand years into one complete purity. All things are blended like this and mutually involve each other.

During our dreams we do not know we are dreaming. We may even dream of interpreting a dream. Only on waking do we know it was a dream. Only after the great awakening will we realize that this is the great dream.

There may be difficulty at the moment, but I will not lose the Virtue that I possess. It is when the ice and snow are on them that we see the strength of the cypress and the pine. I am grateful for this trouble around me, because it gives me an opportunity to realize how fortunate I am.

Forget the years, forget distinctions. Leap into the boundless and make it your home!

Are you and I perchance caught up in a dream from which we have not yet awakened?

Life comes from the earth and life returns to the earth.

Transmit the established facts; do not transmit words of exaggeration. If you do that, you will probably come out all right.

Birth is not the beginning, Death is not the end.

Do not let the artificial obliterate the natural; do not let will obliterate destiny; do not let virtue be sacrificed to fame.

A path is made by walking on it.

And how do I know that the hate of death is not like a man who has lost his home when young and does not know where his home is to return to?

True men” are strong willed, have dignity in their demeanor, serenity in their expression. They are cool like autumn, warm like spring. Their passions arise like the four seasons, in harmony with the ten thousand creatures, and no one knows their limits.

All men know the utility of useful things; but they do not know the utility of futility.