Lao Tzu Quotes
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Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.
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Geese are white, crows are black. No argument will change this.
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Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.
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People are born soft and weak. They die hard and stiff.
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Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it.
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Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.
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When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad. Being and non-being create each other. Difficult and easy support each other. Long and short define each other. High and low depend on each other. Before and after follow each other. Therefore the Master acts without doing anything and teaches without saying anything. Things arise and she lets them come; things disappear and she lets them go. She has but doesn't possess, acts but doesn't expect. When her work is done, she forgets it. That is why it lasts forever.
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Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking. Center your country in the Tao and evil will have no power. Not that it isn't there, but you'll be able to step out of its way. Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.
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In the highest antiquity, the people did not know that there were rulers. In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them.
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The ancient Masters didn't try to educate the people, but kindly taught them to not-know. When they think that they know the answers, people are difficult to guide. When they know that they don't know, people can find their own way. If you want to learn how to govern, avoid being clever or rich. The simplest pattern is the clearest. Content with an ordinary life, you can show all people the way back to their own true nature.
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If a great country yields to a small country, it will conquer the small country. If a small country yields to a great country, it will be conquered by the great country.
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Because of a great love, one is courageous.
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Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
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Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness.
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Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.
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So the unwanting soul sees what's hidden, and the ever-wanting soul sees only what it wants.
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He who steals a hook shall be hanged; while he who steals the state shall be crowned as prince.
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Act without striving. Work without interfering. Find the flavour in what is flavourless.
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He who walks on tip-toe does not walk on solid ground.
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Words spoken about the Way have no taste. When looked at, there's not enough to see. When listened to, there's not enough to hear. When used, it is never exhausted.
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One who lives in accordance with nature does not go against the way of things but moves in harmony with the present moment.
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Can you comprehend everything in the four directions and still do nothing?
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Obscure, like muddy waters.
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The more we give to others, the more we are increased.