Lao Tzu Quotes
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When everyone sees good, then bad exists.
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There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontent. And there is no greater disaster than greed.
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He who knows others is clever; He who knows himself has discernment.
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The mature person perceives the fruitlessness of rigid, external methodologies; Remembering this, he keeps his attitude unstructured at all times and thus is always free to pursue the Integral Way. He studies the teachings of the masters. He dissolves all concepts of duality. He pours himself out in service to others.
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Nature is not human hearted.
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Weapons are ominous tools. They are abhorred by all creatures. Anyone who follows the Way shuns them.
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The wise man looks back into the past, and does not grieve over what is far off, nor rejoice over what is near; for he knows that time is without end.
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Therefore, if a great kingdom humbles itself before a small kingdom, it shall make that small kingdom its prize. And if a small kingdom humbles itself before a great kingdom, it shall win over that great kingdom. Thus the one humbles itself in order to attain, the other attains because it is humble. If the great kingdom has no further desire than to bring men together and to nourish them, the small kingdom will have no further desire than to enter the service of the other. But in order that both may have their desire, the great one must learn humility.
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To retreat after a work well done is Heaven's Way.
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Surrender your self-interest. Love others as much as you love yourself. Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven.
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The further one goes, the less (he realizes he) one knows.
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In this world, there is nothing softer or thinner than water. But to compel the hard and unyielding, it has no equal. That the weak overcomes the strong, that the hard gives way to the gentle - this everyone knows. Yet no one asks accordingly.
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Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.
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The wise man does not lay up treasure. The more he expends on others, the more he gains for himself. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.
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Mold clay into a bowl. The empty space makes it useful.
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Open yourself to the truth, then trust in your natural responses, and everything will fall into place.
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Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.
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The well-run group is not a battlefield of egos.
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Abandon benevolence, discard duty, and people will return to the family ties.
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The rigid tree will be felled.
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The heavy is the root of the light. The unmoved is the source of all movement. Thus the Master travels all day without leaving home. However splendid the views, she stays serenely in herself. Why should the lord of the country flit about like a fool? If you let yourself be blown to and fro, you lose touch with your root. If you let restlessness move you, you lose touch with who you are.
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Do nondoing, strive for nonstriving, savor the flavorless, regard the small as important, make much of little, repay enmity with virtue; plan for difficulty when it is still easy, do the great while it is still small. The most difficult things in the world must be done while they are easy; the greatest things in the world must be done while they are small.
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Mask your brightness. Be at one with the dust of the earth. This is primal union.
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My words have an origin. My deeds have a sovereign. Truly, because people do not understand this, they do not understand me.