Images
He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.
Lao Tzu
There was something undifferentiated and yet complete, which existed before Heaven and Earth. Soundless and formless, it depends on nothing and does not change. It operates everywhere and is free from danger. It may be considered the mother of the universe. I do not know its name; I call it Tao.
Nature is not human hearted.
Great indeed is the sublimity of the Creative, to which all beings owe their beginning and which permeates all heaven.
A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
He who talks more is sooner exhausted.
Because of a great love, one is courageous.
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.
Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it.
To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
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.
He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much.
If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.
When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'
The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'
How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?
Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The less one knows.
The career of a sage is of two kinds: He is either honored by all in the world, Like a flower waving its head, Or else he disappears into the silent forest.
Ambition has one heel nailed in well, though she stretch her fingers to touch the heavens.
He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.
The people are hungry: It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes.
Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.
When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.
He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.
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.
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.
The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; the Named is the mother of all things.
Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its being what it is.
The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.
Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.
Silence is a source of great strength.
If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.
I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.
When a nation is filled with strife, then do patriots flourish.
He who is contented is rich.
The higher the sun ariseth, the less shadow doth he cast; even so the greater is the goodness, the less doth it covet praise; yet cannot avoid its rewards in honours.
The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.
The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.
He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.
Heaven is long-enduring, and earth continues long. The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves.
Of all that is good, sublimity is supreme. Succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful. Furtherance is the agreement of all that is just. Perseverance is the foundation of all actions.
Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.
When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder.
From caring comes courage.
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.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10