Lao Tzu Quotes
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Never take over the world to tamper with it. Those who want to tamper with it are not fit to take over the world.
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Perfect kindness acts without thinking of kindness.
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Conquering others requires force. Conquering oneself requires strength.
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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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The heavy is the root of the light. The tranquil is the ruler of the hasty.
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If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand. If you want to get rid of something, you must first allow it to flourish. If you want to take something, you must first allow it to be given. This is called the subtler perception of the way things are. The soft overcomes the hard. The slow overcomes the fast. Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results.
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Heaven's Way does not contend, yet it certainly triumphs. It does not speak, yet it certainly answers. It does not summon, yet things come by themselves. It seems to be at rest, yet it certainly has a plan.
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The supreme rulers are hardly known by their subjects. The lesser are loved and praised. The even lesser are feared. The least are despised.
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When the ancient Masters said, "If you want to be given everything, give everything up," they weren't using empty phrases. Only in being lived by the Tao can you be truly yourself.
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Seeing the small is called Clarity. Keeping flexible is called Strength. Using the shining Radiance, You enter the Light, Where no harm can come to you. This is called Enlightenment.
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Excellent warriors are not violent.
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When the effective leader is finished with his work, the people say it happened naturally.
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To conquer others is to have power, to conquer yourself is to know the way.
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I have the mind of a fool, understanding nothing.
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People starve. The rulers consume too much with their taxes. That is why people starve.
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When men lack a sense of awe, there will be disaster.
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The best soldier does not attack. The superior fighter succeeds without violence. The greatest conqueror wins without struggle. The most successful manager leads without dictating. This is intelligent non aggressiveness.
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You should rule a great country As you would fry a small fish- With the least turning.
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Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.
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Let people take death seriously, and not travel far.