Lao Tzu Quotes
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When they lose their sense of awe, people turn to religion. When they no longer trust themselves, they begin to depend upon authority. Therefore the Master steps back so that people won't be confused. He teaches without a teaching, so that people will have nothing to learn.
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Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results.
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Heaven is long-enduring, and earth continues long. The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves.
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He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.
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The perfect square lacks corners.
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The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.
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Goodness in words creates trust, goodness in thinking creates depth, goodness in giving creates love.
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Stretch the bow to the very full, and you will wish you had stopped in time.
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Love the whole world as if it were your self; then you will truly care for all things.
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Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
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Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
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When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'
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Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.
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Once upon a time a man whose ax was missing suspected his neighbor's son. The boy walked like a thief, looked like a thief and spoke like a thief. But the man found his ax while digging in the valley, and the next time he saw his neighbor's son, the boy walked, looked and spoke like any other child.
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He who knows himself is enlightened.
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One who is too insistent on his own views, finds few to agree with him.
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When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder.
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Why are the people starving?- Because their grain is being eaten up by the taxes That's why they're starving Why are people rebellious?- Because those above them meddle in their lives That's why they're rebellious Why do people regard death so lightly?- Because they are so involved with their own living That's why they regard death so lightly In the end, The treasure of life is missed by those who hold on and gained by those who let go.
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Abandon knowledge and your worries are over.
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How can a man's life keep it's course If he will not let it flow, Those who flow as life flows know They need no other force: They feel no wear, they feel no tear, They need no mending, no repair.
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The higher the sun ariseth, the less shadow doth he cast; even so the greater is the goodness, the less doth it covet praise; yet cannot avoid its rewards in honours.
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He who, conscious of being strong, is content to be weak, he shall be the paragon of mankind. Being the paragon of mankind, Virtue will never desert him. He returns to the state of a little child.
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To become learned, each day add something. To become enlightened, each day drop something.
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Rituals are the end of fidelity and honesty, and the beginning of confusion.