The Aphorisms of Lao Tzu
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The words of truth are always paradoxical.
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He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.
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Clay is molded to form a cup, But it is on its non-being that the utility of the cup depends. Doors and windows are cut out to make a room, But it is on its non-being that the utility of the room depends. Therefore turn being into advantage, and turn non-being into utility.
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Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
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When a nation is filled with strife, then do patriots flourish.
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To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
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To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect.
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To lead people walk behind them.
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The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.
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The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.
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Silence is a source of great strength.
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Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.
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In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
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Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it.
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From wonder into wonder existence opens.
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Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.
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When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder.
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When the best leader's work is done the people say, "We did it ourselves."
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Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.
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Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.
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To see things in the seed, that is genius.
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To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.
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To lead people, walk beside them... As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people honor and praise. The next, the people fear; and the next, the people hate... When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves!'
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To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.
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Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.
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The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.
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The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'
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The supreme excellence is not to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles. The supreme excellence is to subdue the armies of your enemies without even having to fight them.
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The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.
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The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end of your days.
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The people are hungry: It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes.
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The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.
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The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
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The higher the sun ariseth, the less shadow doth he cast; even so the greater is the goodness, the less doth it covet praise; yet cannot avoid its rewards in honours.
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The career of a sage is of two kinds: He is either honored by all in the world, Like a flower waving its head, Or else he disappears into the silent forest.
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Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.
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People in their handlings of affairs often fail when they are about to succeed. If one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning, there will be no failure.
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Of all that is good, sublimity is supreme. Succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful. Furtherance is the agreement of all that is just. Perseverance is the foundation of all actions.
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Nature is not human hearted.
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Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.
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Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.
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Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.
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Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.
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Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.
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Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.
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Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
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Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
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It is the Vague and Elusive. Meet it and you will not see its head. Follow it and you will not see its back.
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It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. He who does his duty as his own nature reveals it, never sins.
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In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.
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If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.
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If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
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If the Great Way perishes there will morality and duty. When cleverness and knowledge arise great lies will flourish. When relatives fall out with one another there will be filial duty and love. When states are in confusion there will be faithful servants.
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How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?
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Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.
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He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much.
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He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
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He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.
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He who knows himself is enlightened.
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Great indeed is the sublimity of the Creative, to which all beings owe their beginning and which permeates all heaven.
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Great acts are made up of small deeds.
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Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it.
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Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
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From of old the things that have acquired unity are these: Heaven by unity has become clear; Earth by unity has become steady; The Spirit by unity has become spiritual; The Valley by unity has become full; All things by unity have come into existence.
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Darkness within darkness. The gateway to all understanding.
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By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning.
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Born to be wild - live to outgrow it.
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Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage.
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Because of a great love, one is courageous.
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Be the chief but never the lord.
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An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.
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Ambition has one heel nailed in well, though she stretch her fingers to touch the heavens.
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All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.
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