Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching

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Yield and overcome; Bend and be straight; Empty and be full; Wear out and be new; Have little and gain; Have much and be confused....The ancients say, "Yield and overcome." Is that an empty saying? Be really whole, And all things will come to you.

Lao Tzu
In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.

Lao Tzu
Is not the space between Heaven and Earth like a bellows? It is empty, but lacks nothing. The more it moves, the more comes out of it.

Lao Tzu
The good man is the teacher of the bad, And the bad is the material from which the good may learn. He who does not value the teacher, Or greatly care for the material, Is greatly deluded although he may be learned. Such is the essential mystery.

Lao Tzu
The sage, traveling all day, Does not lose sight of his baggage. Though there are beautiful things to be seen, He remains unattached and calm.

Lao Tzu
The people are hungry: It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes.

Lao Tzu
Great talents ripen late; the highest notes are hard to hear.

Lao Tzu
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.

Lao Tzu
The sage does not attempt anything very big, and thus achieves greatness.

Lao Tzu
Without going outside, you may know the whole world, without looking through the window, you may see the ways of heaven. The farther you go, the less you know. Thus the sage knows without traveling; he sees without looking; he works without doing.

Lao Tzu
Why is the sea king of a hundred streams? Because it lies below them... If the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility. If he would lead them, he must follow behind. In this way when the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed...

Lao Tzu
The Way begets one; one begets two; two begets three; three begets the myriad creatures.

Lao Tzu
My words are easy to understand and easy to perform,
Yet no man under heaven knows them or practices them.

Lao Tzu
A tree that can fill the span of a man's arms grows from a downy tip; A terrace nine stories high rises from level earth; A journey of a thousand miles starts from beneath one's feet.

Lao Tzu
Great accomplishment seems imperfect,
Yet it does not outlive its usefulness.
Great fullness seems empty,
Yet it cannot be exhausted.

Lao Tzu
Understanding others is knowledge, Understanding oneself is enlightenment; Conquering others is power, Conquering oneself is strength.

Lao Tzu
Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.

Lao Tzu
Carrying body and soul and embracing the one, Can you avoid separation?

Lao Tzu
Man, when living, is soft and tender; when dead, he is hard and tough. All animals and plants when living are tender and delicate; when dead they become withered and dry. Therefore it is said: the hard and tough are parts of death; the soft and tender are parts of life.

Lao Tzu
Knowing constancy, the mind is open.
With an open mind, you will be openhearted.
Being openhearted you will act royally.
Being royal, you will attain the divine.
Being divine, you will be at one with the Tao.
Being at one with the Tao is eternal.
Though the body dies, the Tao will never pass away.

Lao Tzu
The world is ruled by letting things take their course. It cannot be ruled by interfering.

Lao Tzu
Deal with it before it happens. Set things in order before there is confusion.

Lao Tzu
Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know. Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity. Be like the Tao. It can't be approached or withdrawn from, benefited or harmed, honored or brought into disgrace. It gives itself up continually. That is why it endures.

Lao Tzu
If I have even just a little sense, I will walk on the main road and my only fear will be of straying from it. Keeping to the main road is easy, But people love to be sidetracked.

Lao Tzu
Knowing others is wisdom; Knowing the self is enlightenment; Mastering others requires force; Mastering the self needs strength.

Lao Tzu
The sage seeks freedom from desire. He does not collect precious things. He learns not to hold on to ideas. He brings men back to what they have lost.

Lao Tzu
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.

Lao Tzu
In dwelling, be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart. In dealing with others, be gentle and kind. In speech, be true. In ruling, be just. In daily life, be competent. In action, be aware of the time and the season.

Lao Tzu