Few things under heaven bring more benefit than the lessons learned from silence and the actions taken without striving.
LaoziIf you practice inaction, nothing will be left undone: For the way to acquire lordship over society is by invariably not interfering.
LaoziThe truly great ones rely on substance, and not on surface, hold on to the fruit, and not to the flower.
LaoziBy following this simple path, you become extraordinary, unfathomable, a being of profound cosmic subtlety. You outlive time and space by realizing the subtle truth of the universe.
LaoziWho can enjoy enlightenment and remain indifferent to suffering in the world? This is not in keeping with the Way. Only those who increase their service along with their understanding can be called men and women of Tao.
LaoziSo sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind; Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily; Sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness; Sometimes one is up and sometimes down. Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complacency.
LaoziIf the majority doesn't laugh at you, beware that you must be saying something wrong. When the majority thinks you are a fool, only then is there some possibility of you being a wise man.
LaoziHeaven and Earth last for ever. Why do Heaven and Earth last for ever? They are unborn, so ever living. The sage stays behind, thus he is ahead. He is detached, thus at one with all. Through selfless action, he attains fulfillment.
LaoziHeaven is eternal and Earth everlasting. They can be eternal and everlasting because they do not exist for themselves, And for this reason can exist forever.
LaoziHe who has achieved this state Is unconcerned with friends and enemies, With good and harm, with honor and disgrace. This therefore is the highest state of man.
LaoziThe Master has no mind of her own. She works with the mind of the people. She is good to people who are good. She is also good to people who aren't good. This is true goodness. She trusts people who are trustworthy. She also trusts people who aren't trustworthy. This is true trust. The Master's mind is like space. People don't understand her. They look to her and wait. She treats them like her own children.
LaoziThe world's beginning is its mother. To have found the mother is also to know the children. Although you know the children, cling to the mother. Until your last day you will not be harmed.
LaoziSpeaking with kindness creates confidence, thinking with kindness creates profoundness, giving with kindness creates love.
LaoziThe heavy is the root of the light. The unmoved is the source of all movement. Thus the Master travels all day without leaving home. However splendid the views, she stays serenely in herself. Why should the lord of the country flit about like a fool? If you let yourself be blown to and fro, you lose touch with your root. If you let restlessness move you, you lose touch with who you are.
LaoziWithout going outside, you may know the whole world, without looking through the window, you may see the ways of heaven. The farther you go, the less you know. Thus the sage knows without traveling; he sees without looking; he works without doing.
LaoziShe who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger. She perceives the universal harmony, even amid great pain, because she has found peace in her heart. Music or the smell of good cooking may make people stop and enjoy. But words that point to the Tao seem monotonous and without flavor. When you look for it, there is nothing to see. When you listen for it, there is nothing to hear. When you use it, it is inexhaustible.
LaoziA good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants. A good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is.
LaoziWhat is well rooted cannot be pulled up. What is firmly grasped will not slip loose. It will be honoured from generation to generation.
LaoziDo not make them (people) weary at their work. If you do not make them weary, they will not be weary of you.
LaoziStop thinking, and end your problems. What difference between yes and no? What difference between success and failure? Must you value what others value, avoid what others avoid? How ridiculous!
LaoziIt 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.
LaoziHold on to the great image, and the whole world follows, follows unharmed, content and completely at peace.
LaoziHope 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?
LaoziI 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.
Laozi