Lao Tzu

“Thus it is said:The path into the light seems dark,the path forward seems to go back,the direct path seems long,true power seems weak,true purity seems tarnished,true steadfastness seems changeable,true clarity seems obscure,the greatest are seems unsophisticated,the greatest love seems indifferent,the greatest wisdom seems childish.The Tao is nowhere to be found.Yet it nourishes and completes all things.”

“Laozi was an ancient Chinese philosopher. According to Chinese tradition, Laozi lived in the 6th century BC, however many historians contend that Laozi actually lived in the 4th century BC, which was the period of Hundred Schools of Thought and Warring States Period, while others contend he was a mythical figure. Laozi was credited with writing the seminal Taoist work, the Tao Te Ching, which was originally known as the Laozi. Taishang Laojun was a title for Laozi in the Taoist religion. It refers to One of the Three Pure Ones. Source: Wikipedia”

“There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence of it;—for there is nothing (so effectual) for which it can be changed.”

“Therefore the place of what is firm and strong is below, and that of what is soft and weak is above.”

“The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors.”

“There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war.”

“In this way though he has his place above them, men do not feel his weight, nor though he has his place before them, do they feel it an injury to them.”

“The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much knowledge.”

“He who acts (with an ulterior purpose) does harm; he who takes hold of a thing (in the same way) loses his hold.”

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

“the more implements to add to their profit that the people have, the greater disorder is there in the state and clan;”

“he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it.”

“The sage has in the world an appearance of indecision, and keeps his mind in a state of indifference to all.”

“All things return (to their root and disappear), and do not know that it is it which presides over their doing so;—it may be named in the greatest things.”

“He does not dare (by continuing his operations) to assert and complete his mastery.”

“Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere.”

“The violent and strong do not die their natural death. I will make this the basis of my teaching.”

“This is what is called 'The mysterious Quality' (of the Tao).”

“he who knows himself is intelligent.”

“He who knows other men is discerning;”

“He who overcomes others is strong;”

“He who is satisfied with his lot is rich;”

“And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle (about his low position), no one finds fault with him.”

“This is how they are able to continue and endure.”

“Тhe gentle overcomes the rigid.The slow overcomes the fast.The weak overcomes the strong."…"Everyone knows that the yielding overcomes the stiff,and the soft overcomes the hard.Yet no one applies this knowledge.”

“A great nation is like a great man:When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.Having realized it, he admits it.Having admitted it, he corrects it.He considers those who point out his faultsas his most benevolent teachers.He thinks of his enemyas the shadow that he himself casts.”

“Failure is an opportunity.If you blame someone else,there is no end to the blame.Therefore the Masterfulfills her own obligationsand corrects her own mistakes.She does what she needs to doand demands nothing of others.”

“What makes me liable to great calamity is my having the body (which I call myself); if I had not the body, what great calamity could come to me?”

“If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.”

“Your inner being guard, and keep it free.”

“The multitude of men look satisfied and pleased; as if enjoying a full banquet, as if mounted on a tower in spring. I alone seem listless and still, my desires having as yet given no indication of their presence. I am like an infant which has not yet smiled. I look dejected and forlorn, as if I had no home to go to. The multitude of men all have enough and to spare. I alone seem to have lost everything. My mind is that of a stupid man; I am in a state of chaos.Ordinary men look bright and intelligent, while I alone seem to be benighted. They look full of discrimination, while I alone am dull and confused. I seem to be carried about as on the sea, drifting as if I had nowhere to rest. All men have their spheres of action, while I alone seem dull and incapable, like a rude borderer.(Thus) I alone am different from other men, but I value the nursing-mother (the Tao).”

“Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature. A violent wind does not last for a whole morning; a sudden rain does not last for the whole day. To whom is it that these (two) things are owing? To Heaven and Earth. If Heaven and Earth cannot make such (spasmodic) actings last long, how much less can a man!”

“The first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking from taking precedence of others.”

“Because he does not strive, no one finds it possible to strive with him.”

“Therefore all in the world delight to exalt him and do not weary of him.”

“For regulating the human (in our constitution) and rendering the (proper) service to the heavenly, there is nothing like moderation.”

“Will work but ill, and disappointment bring.”

“That which is meddling, touching everything,”

“I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct.”

“The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways.”

“This honouring of the Tao and exalting of its operation is not the result of any ordination, but always a spontaneous tribute.”

“The farther that one goes out (from himself), the less he knows.”

“Purity and stillness give the correct law to all under heaven.”

“I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing (with a purpose).”

“The Tao is hidden, and has no name; but it is the Tao which is skilful at imparting (to all things what they need) and making them complete.”

“It as non-existent (and not named).”

“All things under heaven sprang from It as existing (and named); that existence sprang from”

“If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

“Its upper part is not bright, and its lower part is not obscure.”

“The people starve because those in authority over them devour too many taxes; that is why they starve.”