On Tao

The Way . . . We don't know whose child it is;
It seems to have [even] preceded the Lord.
(Chap 4.)

The valley spirit never dies;
We call it the mysterious female.
The gates of the mysterious female -
These we call the roots of Heaven and Earth.
Subtle yet everlasting! It seems to exist.
In being used, it is not exhausted.
(Chap. 6)

Water . . . is close to the Way. (Chap. 8)

In activity, the good thing is timeliness. (Chap. 8)

When the deed is accomplished you retire;
Such is Heaven's Way!
(Chap. 9)

Hendricks, Robert.