Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
The Eternal generates the One. The One generates the Two. The Two generates the Three. The Three generates all things.
What people loathe the most is to be orphaned, desolate, unworthy. But this is what princes and kings call themselves.
The world is a sacred vessel that cannot be changed. He who changes it will destroy it. He who seizes it will lose it.
{The cleansing of spiritual contamination} is accomplished by offering one's talent, resources, and life to the world.
Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return.
The master accomplishes more and more by doing less and less until finally he accomplishes everything by doing nothing.
Few things under heaven bring more benefit than the lessons learned from silence and the actions taken without striving.
A vessel is formed from a lump of clay with care, however, it is the empty space within the vessel that makes it useful.
That the soft overcomes the hard, and the yielding overcomes the resistant, is a fact known by all, but practiced by few.
A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step - Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others.
If you search everywhere, yet cannot find what you are seeking, it is because what you seek is already in your possession.
Speaking with kindness creates confidence, thinking with kindness creates profoundness, giving with kindness creates love.
The sage desires no desire, does not value rare treasures, learns without learning, recovers what people have left behind.
Those who of old were good practicers of Tao did not use it to make people bright, but rather used it to make them simple.
The Tao is unpredictable to those that live according to plans. Only those who have no agenda are in harmony with the Tao.
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.
First, we must do our own personal work, then we tend the necessary work of our family, then our community, then the world.
One who lives in accordance with nature does not go against the way of things but moves in harmony with the present moment.
Much knowledge will corrupt the heart,/When partly understood,/And so the people grow too smart,/But neither wise nor good.
ALL things in Nature work silently. They come into being and possess nothing. They fulfil their functions and make no claim.
My words have an origin. My deeds have a sovereign. Truly, because people do not understand this, they do not understand me.
Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.
The more laws and restrictions there are, The poorer people become. The sharper men's weapons, The more trouble in the land.
The weak overcomes the strong. The soft overcomes the hard. Everybody in the world knows this, still nobody makes use of it.
The sage is sharp but does not cut, pointed but does not pierce, forthright but does not offend, bright but does not dazzle.
To bear and not to own; to act and not lay claim; to do the work and let it go: for just letting it go is what makes it stay.
The wise man, after learning something new, is afraid to learn anything more until he has put his first lesson into practice.
The Master observes the world, but trusts his inner vision. He allows things to come and go. His heart is as open as the sky.
Force is followed by loss of strength. This is not the way of the Tao. That which goes against the Tao comes to an early end.
Only those who leisurely approach that which the masses are busy about can be busy about that which the masses take leisurely.
The highest virtue is not virtuous. Therefore it has virtue. The lowest virtue holds on to virtue. Therefore it has no virtue.
The great Way is easy, yet people prefer the side paths. Be aware when things are out of balance. Stay centered within the Tao.
Surrender your self-interest. Love others as much as you love yourself. Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven.
The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.
Knowing others is wisdom; Knowing the self is enlightenment; Mastering others requires force; Mastering the self needs strength.
Not-knowing is true knowledge. Presuming to know is a disease. First realize that you are sick; then you can move toward health.
Why did the ancients praise the Way? Did they not say it was because you find what you seek and are saved from your wrongdoings?
The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. Through this I know the advantage of taking no action.
The highest virtue does nothing. Yet, nothing needs to be done. The lowest virtue does everything. Yet, much remains to be done.
Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. The way of nature is unchanging. Knowing constancy is insight.
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
Without the tao, Kindness and compassion are replaced by law and justice; Faith and trust are supplanted by ritual and ceremony.
Why do the people think so little of death? Because the rulers demand too much of life. Therefore the people take death lightly.
Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.
By the accident of fortune a man may rule the world for a time, but by virtue of love and kindness he may rule the world forever.
Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe.
Lay plans for the accomplishment of the difficult before it becomes difficult; make something big by starting with it when small.
A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
When merit has been achieved, do not take it to yourself; for if you do not take it to yourself, it shall never be taken from you.
Hope and fear are both phantoms that arise from thinking of the self. When we don't see the self as self, what do we have to fear?