Lao Tzu Quotes
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Appetite for food and sex is nature.
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Those who know it do not speak about it. Those who speak about it do not know it.
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For one gains by losing And loses by gaining.
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The Way of Heaven does not complete, and yet it skillfully achieves victory. It does not speak, and yet it skillfully responds to things. It comes to you without your invitation.
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He does not seek power - yet people follow him.
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He does not seek glory - yet people respect him.
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There is no greater crime than desire.
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Everything in the universe is created from something, which in turn is created from nothing.
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Nothing and no one in the world is valuable or worthless.
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Behave simply and hold on to purity.
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Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it. The soft overcomes the hard; the gentle overcomes the rigid. Everyone knows this is true, but few can put it into practice. Therefore the Master remains serene in the midst of sorrow. Evil cannot enter his heart. Because he has given up helping, he is people's greatest help. True words seem paradoxical.
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By moderation one can be generous.
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The farther you go, the less you know.
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If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.
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We go from birth to death. Three out of ten follow life. Three out of ten follow death. People who rush from birth to death are also three out of ten. Why is that so? Because they want to make too much of life.
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Therefore: In dwelling, choose modest quarters, in thinking, value stillness, in dealing with others, be kind, in choosing words, be sincere, in leading, be just, in working, be competent, in acting, choose the correct timing. Follow these words and there will be no error.
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Water does not force its way.
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All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power.
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To produce things and to rear them, To produce, but not to take possession of them, To act, but not to rely on one's own ability, To lead them, but not to master them - This is called profound and secret virtue.
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So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind; Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily; Sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness; Sometimes one is up and sometimes down. Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complacency.
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Being a model to the world, eternal virtue will never falter in you, and you return to the boundless.
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Great, it passes on (in constant flow).
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The transformation toward eternal life is gradual. The heavy gross energy of body, mind, and spirit must first be purified and uplifted. When the energy ascends... then self mastery can be sought.
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Things are not worth attending to, yet they have to be attended to.