Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
The Master doesn't seek fulfillment. For only those who are not full are able to be used which brings the feeling of completeness.
The one who does not honor the teacher and the one who does not honor the task, although ever so knowledgeable, they are confused.
We desire to understand the world by giving names to the things we see, but these things are only the effects of something subtle.
. . . learn to value what is important today in the subtle realm rather than what appears desirable tomorrow in the worldly realm.
Simplicity has no name is free of desires. Being free of desires it is tranquil. And the world will be at peace of it's own accord.
The True Person benefits yet expects no reward, does the work and moves on. There is no desire to be considered better than others.
They can see their neighbors. Roosters and dogs can be heard from there. Still, they will age and die without visiting one another.
When the government is quite unobtrusive, people are indeed pure. When the government is quite prying, people are indeed conniving.
The liberation cannot be reached but by means of the perception of the identity of the individual spirit with the universal spirit.
A tree trunk the size of a man grows from a blade as thin as a hair. A tower nine stories high is built from a small heap of earth.
The most powerful weapon known is the weapon of blessing. Therefore, a clever person relies on it. He wins with peace, not with war.
The living are soft and yielding; the dead are rigid and stiff. Living plants are flexible and tender; the dead are brittle and dry.
Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the various creatures as straw dogs; the sage is ruthless, and treats others as straw dogs.
Rushing into action, you fail. Trying to grasp things, you lose them. Forcing a project to completion, you ruin what was almost ripe.
If you practice inaction, nothing will be left undone: For the way to acquire lordship over society is by invariably not interfering.
I alone have the mind of a fool, and am all muddled and vague. The people are so smart and bright. While I am just dull and confused.
See others as yourself. See families as your family. See towns as your town. See countries as your country. See worlds as your world.
The True Person governs by emptying the heart of desire and filling the belly with food, weakening ambitions and strengthening bones.
Great accomplishment seems imperfect, Yet it does not outlive its usefulness. Great fullness seems empty, Yet it cannot be exhausted.
Understanding others is knowledge, Understanding oneself is enlightenment; Conquering others is power, Conquering oneself is strength.
It is as though he listened and such listening as his enfolds us in silence in which at last we begin to hear what we are meant to be.
When many people are killed, they should be mourned and lamented. Those who are victorious in war should follow the rites of funerals.
By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning.
Is not the space between Heaven and Earth like a bellows? It is empty, but lacks nothing. The more it moves, the more comes out of it.
Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness.
What is well rooted cannot be pulled up. What is firmly grasped will not slip loose. It will be honoured from generation to generation.
If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow them from behind.
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.
The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors. It is through this that they suffer famine.
There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontent. And there is no greater disaster than greed.
A good manager is best when people barely know that he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him.
By steadily disciplining the animal nature, until it becomes one pointed, it is possible to establish conscious awareness of The Eternal.
The truly wise are content to be last. They are, therefore, first. They are indifferent to themselves. They are, therefore self-confident.
Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream.
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.
The more prohibitions there are, the poorer the people will be. The more laws are promulgated, the more thieves and bandits there will be.
Through return to simple living comes control of desires. In control of desires stillness is attained. In stillness the world is restored.
To bear the country's disgrace is to rule the shrines of soil and grain. To bear the country's misfortunes is to be the king of the world.
Approach the universe with Tao, And evil will have no power. Not that evil is not powerful, But its power will not be used to harm others.
In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.
Gentleness brings victory to him who attacks, and safety to him who defends. Those whom Heaven would save, it fences round with gentleness.
The Sage expects no recognition for what he does; he achieves merit but does not take it to himself; he does not wish to display his worth.
Warriors say: I dare not be like the host, but would rather be like the guest. I dare not advance an inch, but would rather retreat a foot.
To be brave without compassion, generous without moderation, and rule without refraining from being first in the world, are certain deaths.
There is no greater fault than sensual indulgence. There is no greater misfortune than malcontent. There is no greater calamity than greed.
Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.
Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.
The supreme rulers are hardly known by their subjects. The lesser are loved and praised. The even lesser are feared. The least are despised.
The inner is the foundation of the outer. The still is master of the restless. The Sage travels all day yet never leaves his inner treasure.
I have three treasures that I cherish. The first is compassion. The second is moderation. The third is not claiming to be first in the world.