Lao Tzu Quotes
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Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail.
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All things in nature work silently. They come into being and possess nothing. They fulfill their function and make no claim. All things alike do their work, and then we see them subside. When they have reached their bloom, each returns to its origin. . . . This reversion is an eternal law. To know that law is wisdom.
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The sage wears coarse clothes, concealing jade.
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No disaster is worse than being discontented.
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Have patience. Wait until the mud settles and the water is clear. Remain unmoving until right action arises by itself.
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Kindness in thought leads to wisdom. Kindness in speech leads to eloquence. Kindness in action leads to love.
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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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Thorn bushes grow where armies have camped.
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One's own self or material goods, which has more worth? Loss (of self) or possession (of goods), which is the greater evil? He who loves most, spends most, He who hoards much loses much.
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Because of deep love, one is courageous. Because of frugality, one is generous. Because of not daring to be ahead of the world, one becomes the leader of the world.
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The Master gives himself up to whatever the moment brings. He knows that he is going to die, and her has nothing left to hold on to: no illusions in his mind, no resistances in his body. He doesn't think about his actions; they flow from the core of his being. He holds nothing back from life; therefore he is ready for death, as a man is ready for sleep after a good day's work.
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To know people is wisdom, but to know yourself is enlightenment. to master people takes force, but to master yourself takes strength. to know contentment is wealth, and to live with strength resolve. to never leave whatever you are is to abide, and to die without getting lost- that is to live on and on.
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Freedom from desire leads to inner peace.
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Attending fully and becoming supple, Can you be as a newborn babe?
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The eye with which you see God is the same eye with which God sees you; one in seeing; one in knowing; one in loving.
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Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil.
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The virtuous carry out the settlement, but those without virtue pursue their claims.
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Covetousness is the greatest misfortune. One who does not know what is enough will never have enough.
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Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.
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A man is born gentle and weak. At death he is hard and stiff.
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There is no greater offence than harbouring desires. There is no greater disaster than discontent. There is no greater misfortune than wanting more.
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Its name-what passes not away.
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A climb of eight hundred feet starts where the foot stands.
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The seed of mystery lies in muddy water. How can I perceive this mystery? Water becomes clear through stillness. How can I become still? By flowing with the stream.