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He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.
Lao Tzu -
The great Way is all-pervading. It reaches to the left and to the right. All things depend on it with their existence. Still it demands no obedience.
Lao Tzu
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See others as yourself. See families as your family. See towns as your town. See countries as your country. See worlds as your world.
Lao Tzu -
Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it.
Lao Tzu -
If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.
Lao Tzu -
When everyone sees good, then bad exists.
Lao Tzu -
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.
Lao Tzu -
The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be. The more subsidies you have, the less self reliant people will be.
Lao Tzu
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Returning to the source is serenity.
Lao Tzu -
Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.
Lao Tzu -
If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.
Lao Tzu -
To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.
Lao Tzu -
Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.
Lao Tzu -
When the Way is lost there is virtue. When virtue is lost there is benevolence. When benevolence is lost there is righteousness. When righteousness is lost there are rituals.
Lao Tzu
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He who steals a hook shall be hanged; while he who steals the state shall be crowned as prince.
Lao Tzu -
Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.
Lao Tzu -
All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.
Lao Tzu -
He who has no faith in others shall find no faith in them.
Lao Tzu -
It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. He who does his duty as his own nature reveals it, never sins.
Lao Tzu -
People are born soft and weak. They die hard and stiff.
Lao Tzu
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Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men doesn't try to force issues or defeat enemies by force of arms. For every force there is a counterforce. Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself. The Master does his job and then stops. He understands that the universe is forever out of control, and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Tao. Because he believes in himself, he doesn't try to convince others. Because he is content with himself, he doesn't need others' approval. Because he accepts himself, the whole world accepts him.
Lao Tzu -
He who knows others is clever; He who knows himself has discernment.
Lao Tzu -
To become learned, each day add something. To become enlightened, each day drop something.
Lao Tzu -
We join spokes together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move. We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want. We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner space that makes it livable. We work with being, but non-being is what we use.
Lao Tzu