Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching

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The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, Having bestowed all he has on others, he has yet more; having given all he has to others, he is richer still.

Lao Tzu
Going back to the origin is called peace; it means reversion to destiny. Reversion to destiny is called eternity. Those who know eternity are called enlightened.

Lao Tzu
Attending fully and becoming supple, Can you be as a newborn babe?

Lao Tzu
Arms are instruments of ill omen, not the instruments of the gentleman. When one is compelled to use them, it is best to do so without relish.

Lao Tzu
Creating without claiming, Doing without taking credit, Guiding without interfering, This is Primal Virtue.

Lao Tzu
Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good as good only because there is evil. Therefore having and not having arise together. Difficult and easy complement each other. Long and short contrast each other. High and low rest upon each other. Voice and sound harmonize each other. Front and back follow one another.

Lao Tzu
Conquering others takes force, conquering yourself is true strength.

Lao Tzu
He who stands on tiptoe is not steady. He who strides cannot maintain the pace. He who makes a show is not enlightened. He who is self-righteous is not respected. He who boasts achieves nothing. He who brags will not endure. According to followers of the Tao, "These are extra food and unnecessary luggage." They do not bring happiness, therefore followers of the Tao avoid them.

Lao Tzu
The (method of) correction shall by a turn become distortion, and the good in it shall by a turn become evil.

Lao Tzu
Act non-action; undertake no undertaking; taste the tasteless.

Lao Tzu
I am good to people who are good. I am also good to people who are not good. Because Virtue is goodness.

Lao Tzu
What is a good man? A teacher of a bad man. What is a bad man? A good man's charge?

Lao Tzu
In the Way of Heaven, there is no partiality of love; it is always on the side of the good man.

Lao Tzu
The wise student hears of the Tao and practices it diligently. The average student hears of the Tao and gives it thought now and again.

Lao Tzu
Highest good is like water. Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to be, it comes closest to the way.

Lao Tzu
Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. The way of nature is unchanging. Knowing constancy is insight.

Lao Tzu
Purity and stillness give the correct law to all under heaven.

Lao Tzu
He who defends with love will be secure; Heaven will save him, and protect him with love.

Lao Tzu
Know honor, Yet keep humility. Be the valley of the universe! Being the valley of the universe, Ever true and resourceful, Return to the state of the uncarved block.

Lao Tzu
Too much success is not an advantage.
Do not tinkle like jade
Or clatter like stone chimes.

Lao Tzu
Know the white, But keep the black, Be an example to the world! Being an example to the world, Ever true and unwavering, Return to the infinite.

Lao Tzu
Knowing ignorance is strength; ignoring knowledge is sickness.

Lao Tzu
When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one embrace, they can be kept from separating.

Lao Tzu
Something mysteriously formed, Born before heaven and earth. In the silence and the void, Standing alone and unchanging, Ever present and in motion.

Lao Tzu
I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct.

Lao Tzu
The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout...

Lao Tzu
He who regards the world as he does the fortune of his own body can govern the world. He who loves the world as he does his own body can be entrusted with the world.

Lao Tzu
To consider this desirable would be to delight in the slaughter of men; and he who delights in the slaughter of men cannot get his will in the kingdom.

Lao Tzu
He who has little will receive. He who has much will be embarrassed.

Lao Tzu
Mask your brightness. Be at one with the dust of the earth. This is primal union.

Lao Tzu