taoism (tao of pooh) question!?

Explain: "To the Taoist, Nothing is something, and Something-- at least the sort of thing that many consider to be important-- is really nothing at all."

Nothing isn't just something, nothing is everything, because only nothing has all potential within it. The fleeting valuables of mortal life turn out to be nothing at all.

The Tao that can be told, is not the eternal Tao.

on a side note, something else you may be interested in taking a look at...

http://www.stherman.com/catalog/chapter_three/Tao_book.htm

Well the 2ND part is easier to explain. By "Something", he means things like an HD TV, for example. Many consider it important, but its just a thing. Its not important in Th grand scheme.

The first part is harder to explain. I think Hoff (the author) goes overboard with the "Nothing is the key to everything" routine. I would say he is referring to "Doing non-doing". That doesn't mean doing nothing in the most literal sense. It means doing what is the true you; doing nothing contrived or artificial. Its easy to understand, actually, all you have to do is consider a dog. What does a dog do? He is always his true self. He sleeps when he is sleepy, eats when he is hungry, plays when his is feeling playful. Therefore he is never bitter; never resentful; always at peace with himself. The dog is never acting, so you could say he is not doing, but BEING.