1.道可道非常道。（《道德经》第1章）
1. The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao. (Chapter 1 of Tao Te Ching)

这句话有三种标点方式。第一种：道，可道，非常道。告诉我们，道之可说的那一部分，不是所谓的长恒不变之道。第二种：道可，道非，常道。告诉我们，只要有人说这样可以，就有人说这样不可以。这是常态，这个就叫做常道。第三种，也是一般最常用的：道可道，非常道。告诉我们，大家所说的都是道，没有错，但是只是道的一小部分，大家没有办法把“道”完完整整地说清楚。
There are three punctuation methods for this sentence. The first one: Tao, can be spoken, is not the eternal Tao. It tells us that the part of the Tao that can be spoken is not the so-called everlasting and unchanging Tao. The second one: Tao can, Tao is not, the eternal Tao. It tells us that if someone says it can be done, others will say it cannot. This is the norm, and this is called the eternal Tao. The third one, which is also the most commonly used: The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao. It tells us that everything people say is Tao, and there is no mistake, but it is only a small part of the Tao, and people cannot fully express the “Tao”.

2，上善若水。水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，故几于道。（《道德经》第8章）
2. The highest virtue is like water. Water is good at benefiting all things without contention and stays in places where people dislike to be, thus it is close to the Tao. (Chapter 8 of Tao Te Ching)

人应该修道，但是修道要有一个榜样，这个榜样就是水。水，很善于无私地帮助万物，无私地利于万物而不求回报，它没有说你用它，就要收你多少钱。人都很讨厌比别的人低下，可是水却往低处流，冲走污秽，几几乎乎接近于道。
People should cultivate the Tao, but they need a role model, and this role model is water. Water is very good at selflessly helping all things, benefiting all things without asking for anything in return. It doesn’t say that if you use it, you have to pay a certain amount of money. People hate being lower than others, but water flows downward, washing away filth, and is almost close to the Tao.

3，致虚极，守静笃。（《道德经》第16章）
3. Reach the extreme of emptiness, and firmly guard the tranquility. (Chapter 16 of Tao Te Ching)

虚掉心中的执著，去除不必要的欲念，减少莫名的烦恼，然后使内心保持原来的那种虚和静，这样才能够有新的发现，才能够知道原来道清清楚楚地在这里，只是自己糊涂，看不见而已。我们常讲的四个字“清心寡欲”，其实就是从这里来的。
Empty the mind of attachments, eliminate unnecessary desires, reduce unexplained troubles, and then maintain the original emptiness and tranquility of the mind. In this way, you can have new discoveries and realize that the Tao is clearly here, but you are confused and cannot see it. The four words we often speak, “clear mind and few desires,” actually come from here.

4，大道废，有仁义；慧智出，有大伪；六亲不和，有孝慈；国家昏乱，有忠臣。（《道德经》第18章）
4. When the great Tao is abandoned, there is benevolence and righteousness; when wisdom and intelligence emerge, there is great hypocrisy; when family members are not harmonious, there is filial piety and kindness; when the country is in chaos, there are loyal ministers. (Chapter 18 of Tao Te Ching)

大道被丢掉了，才有提倡仁义的需要；聪明智巧的现象出现了，伪诈才盛行一时；家庭出现了纠纷，才能显示出孝与慈；国家陷于混乱，才能见出忠臣。
The great Tao is abandoned, and there is a need to advocate benevolence and righteousness; the emergence of cleverness and wisdom leads to the prevalence of hypocrisy; family disputes can reveal filial piety and kindness; the country’s chaos can bring out loyal ministers.

5，人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。 （《道德经》第25章）
5. People follow the Earth, the Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature. (Chapter 25 of Tao Te Ching)

人取法地，地取法天，天取法道，道才能够代表自然。人要一步一步来。你要走路，先把地看好，脚步站稳，才不会摔跤，才能抬头去看方向。看了方向以后，才知道哪个是正道，哪个不是正道，慢慢养成习惯，就自然而然了。
People should take one step at a time. If you want to walk, first look at the ground, stand firmly, and avoid falling. Then you can look up and see the direction. After seeing the direction, you will know which is the right path and which is not, and gradually develop habits, and it will become natural.

6，上士闻道，勤而行之；中士闻道，若存若亡；下士闻道，大笑之。 （《道德经》第41章）
6. The superior man hears the Dao and diligently puts it into practice; the average man hears the Dao and is half-believing, half-doubting; the inferior man hears the Dao and laughs out loud. (Chapter 41 of Dao De Jing)

上等智慧的人，听到道，是跟他的内心相通的，他会非常勤劳，不断地用实践来增强对道的感悟。他不但不会怀疑、不会评论，更不会到处讲给人家听。中等智慧的人听到道，好像听得懂，又好像听不懂。下士听到道，认为你在乱讲，认为肯定不可能有这种事情，才会哈哈大笑。
1. Superior wisdom people, upon hearing the Dao, connect it with their inner selves, and they work diligently, constantly using practice to enhance their understanding of the Dao. They neither doubt nor comment, nor do they talk about it everywhere.
7，道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物。（《道德经》第42章）
2. Mediocre wisdom people hear the Dao and seem to understand it, but at the same time, they seem not to understand it.

如果我们把这一句话中间部分去掉，只留下前后四个字，就是“道生万物”，但是道生万物是一个很长的历程。“一”是从无到有的一个开始。“二”开始有阴阳，有了不一样的性质。“三”是阴阳和阴阳互动，有阴，有阳，有它们的交合、调试、交互作用，这样就产生了万物。
3. Inferior people hear the Dao and think you are talking nonsense, believing that there must be no such thing, and they laugh out loud.

8，为学日益。为道日损。损之又损，以至于无为。无为而不为。 （《道德经》第48章）
4. Dao creates one, one creates two, two creates three, and three creates all things. (Chapter 42 of the Tao Te Ching)

学习知识，当然是越多越好，增加你的见闻，使你懂得更多的东西。可是这个时候你就要提醒自己，除了为学以外还要为道。就是你每学一样东西，都要回归以道，合不合理，合不合天道，合天道就去实证，不合天道，你知道是怎么一回事但是不做。把学来的东西筛选，该减少的减少，该忘掉的忘掉，损到你所知道的知识全部都合乎天道，你就会无为而无不为。
5. If we remove the middle part of this sentence and only keep the first and last four characters, it becomes “Dao creates all things.” However, the creation of all things by Dao is a long process. “One” is the beginning from nothing to something. “Two” starts with Yin and Yang, having different natures. “Three” is the interaction of Yin and Yang, with Yin, Yang, and their combination, adjustment, and interaction, thus giving birth to all things.

9，天道无亲，常与善人。（《道德经》第79章）
6. Studying increases knowledge daily. Practicing the Dao reduces daily. Reduce and reduce again until non-action is achieved. By non-action, nothing is left undone. (Chapter 48 of the Tao Te Ching)

天道没有亲戚，没有朋友，但是常常跟那些尊道而行的人在一起，道本来是跟每个人在一起的，只不过你离天道越来越远，天道也莫能助。意思是说你只要顺自然，只要顺天道，尽力而为，不是老天来照顾你，而是你本来就应该得到好的结果。这跟道本身没有关系，完全是你自作自受。
7. Studying knowledge, of course, the more the better, increasing your knowledge and making you understand more things. But at this time, you should remind yourself that in addition to studying, you should also practice the Dao. That is, for every thing you learn, you should return to the Dao, whether it is reasonable or in accordance with the Dao. If it is in accordance with the Dao, you should practice it; if not, you should know what it is but not do it. Filter the knowledge you have learned, reduce what should be reduced, and forget what should be forgotten. When all the knowledge you know is in accordance with the Dao, you will achieve non-action and nothing is left undone.

10，天之道，利而不害。圣人之道，为而不争。（《道德经》第81章）
8. Heaven’s Dao has no relatives, no friends, but it is always with those who follow the Dao. The Dao is originally with everyone, but the farther you are from the Dao, the less it can help. The meaning is that as long as you follow nature and the Dao, and do your best, it is not heaven that takes care of you, but that you should naturally get good results. This has nothing to do with the Dao itself, and it is entirely self-inflicted.

天道为什么会生生不已，因为它永远对万物有利而无害。圣人为什么会为而不争？因为他仿效天道，天道只有奉献，它没有争任何东西，圣人永远为大家服务，永远施多于取。
9. Heaven’s Dao is beneficial but not harmful. The sage’s way is to act without contention. (Chapter 81 of the Tao Te Ching)