Lao Tzu Quotes
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In order to contract, It is necessary first to expand. In order to weaken, It is necessary first to strengthen. In order to destroy, It is first necessary to promote. In order to grasp, It is necessary first to give. This is called subtle light. The weak and the tender overcome the hard and the strong.
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Whatever one cultivates, is what one becomes.
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Loss is not as bad as wanting more.
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The sage wears coarse clothes, concealing jade.
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Make your heart like a lake, with calm, still surface, and great depths of kindness.
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Love is the greatest link that we have with those who have temporarily left us.
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Those who defeat others are strong, those who defeat themselves are mighty.
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The one who is filled by virtue is like a newborn baby.
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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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The Tao of the sage is work without effort.
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A good mooring needs no knot, still no one can untie it.
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When much virtue is achieved, nothing is not overcome.
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Its name-what passes not away.
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What has not yet emerged is easy to prevent.
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The Master's power is like this. He lets all things come and go effortlessly, without desire. He never expects results; thus he is never disappointed. He is never disappointed; thus his spirit never grows old.
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The more laws and orders are multiplied, the more theft and violence increase.
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The sage regards things as difficult, and thereby avoids difficulty.
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Good words shall gain you honor in the marketplace, but good deeds shall gain you friends among men.
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I have three treasures which I hold and keep. The first is mercy; the second is economy. The third is daring not to be ahead of others. From mercy comes courage; from economy comes generosity; From humility comes leadership.
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Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.
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When you accurately perceive the fluidity of things, you can also begin to perceive the constancy behind them: the creative, transformative, boundless, immutable Tao.
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The Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to Two. Two gives birth to Three. Three gives birth to all things. All things have their backs to the female and stand facing the male. When male and female combine, all things achieve harmony. Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe.
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When the highest type of people hear Tao (Truth), they diligently practice it. When the average type of people hear Tao, they half believe in it. When the lowest type of people hear Tao, they laugh at it. If they did not laugh, it would not be Tao.
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If the majority doesn't laugh at you, beware that you must be saying something wrong. When the majority thinks you are a fool, only then is there some possibility of you being a wise man.