Lao Tzu Quotes
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Use the light to return to clarity.
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The True Person benefits yet expects no reward, does the work and moves on. There is no desire to be considered better than others.
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Deal with difficult tasks while they are easy. Act on large issues while they are small.
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Mastering others is strength. Mastering oneself makes you fearless.
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A man's excellence is like that of water; It benefits all things without striving; It takes to the low places shunned by men. Water is akin to Tao. . . . In all the earth nothing weaker than water, Yet in attacking the hard, nothing superior, Nothing so certain in wearing down strength: There is no way to resist it. Note then: The weak conquer the strong, The yielding outlast the aggressors.
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The one who does not stray away from her/his nature will live long.
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If you correct your mind the rest of your life will fall into place.
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If you overesteem great men, people become powerless. If you overvalue possessions, people begin to steal. The Master leads by emptying people's minds and filling their cores, by weakening their ambition and toughening their resolve. He helps people lose everything they know, everything they desire, and creates confusion in those who think that they know. Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place.
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The ego is entranced by ... names and ideas... However names and concepts only block your perception of this Great Oneness. Therefore it is wise to ignore them. Those who live inside their egos are continually bewildered.
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A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants.
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Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.
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When the worst student hears about the Way, he laughs out loud. If he did not laugh, it would be unworthy of being the Way.
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What has no substance can penetrate what has no opening.
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Without law or compulsion, men would dwell in harmony.
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Peace is our natural state of being.
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All men desire to free themselves solely from death; they do not know how to free themselves from life.
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In lightness the root is lost. In haste the ruler is lost.
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There is no illusion great than fear.
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Quiet your mind and stop judging and resisting and manipulating the natural way.
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Throw away sacredness and wisdom and people will be one hundred times happier.
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Therefore the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death. The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.
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Weapons are the tools of violence;all decent men detest them.Weapons are the tools of fear;a decent man will avoid themexcept in the direst necessityand, if compelled, will use themonly with the utmost restraint.Peace is his highest value.If the peace has been shattered,how can he be content?His enemies are not demons,but human beings like himself.He doesn't wish them personal harm.Nor does he rejoice in victory.How could he rejoice in victoryand delight in the slaughter of men?He enters a battle gravely,with sorrow and with great compassion,as if he were attending a funeral.
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Do you think you can make the world a better place? I do not think you can. It is already perfect.
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Who is unhappy with little, won't be with much; who doesn't appreciate the small won't be able to take care of the large; who doesn't have enough with enough is at the margin or virtue, for the physical body lives from one day to another and if it gets what it really needs, there will be time for meditation, as long as if we try to give it everything it desires, endless will be the task.