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If I have even just a little sense, I will walk on the main road and my only fear will be of straying from it. Keeping to the main road is easy, But people love to be sidetracked.
Sep 29, 2025
The farther you go, the less you know.
In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.
For one gains by losing And loses by gaining.
Yielding, like ice about to melt.
To understand the limitation of things, desire them.
All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power.
Knowing ignorance is strength; ignoring knowledge is sickness.
Try to change it and you will ruin it. Try to hold it and you will lose it.
Know honor, Yet keep humility. Be the valley of the universe! Being the valley of the universe, Ever true and resourceful, Return to the state of the uncarved block.
The truth often sounds paradoxical.
A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth.
Without 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.
The more laws and restrictions there are, The poorer people become. The sharper men's weapons, The more trouble in the land.
Creating without claiming, Doing without taking credit, Guiding without interfering, This is Primal Virtue.
Why are the people rebellious? Because the rulers interfere too much. Therefore they are rebellious.
I am good to people who are good. I am also good to people who are not good. Because Virtue is goodness.
What man has more than enough and gives it to the world? Only the man of Tao.
A foolish man is always doing, Yet much remains to be done.
It is fitting for a great nation to yield.
He who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn't go far. He who tries to shine dims his own light. He who defines himself can't know who he really is. He who has power over others can't empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures.
Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.
Therefore the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death. The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.
A man is born gentle and weak. At death, he is hard and stiff. Green plants are tender and filled with sap. At death, they are withered and dry. Therefore, the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death, and the gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.
The mark of a moderate man is freedom from his own ideas. Tolerant like the sky, all-pervading like sunlight, firm like a mountain, supple like a tree in the wind, he has no destination in view and makes use of anything life happens to bring his way.
I have three treasures which I hold and keep. The first is mercy; the second is economy. The third is daring not to be ahead of others. From mercy comes courage; from economy comes generosity; From humility comes leadership.
There is no greater sin than desire, No greater curse than discontent, No greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself. Therefore he who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
Deal with it before it happens. Set things in order before there is confusion.
Without going outside, you may know the whole world!
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.
Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.
Free from desire, you realize the mystery, caught in the desire, you see only the manifestations.
True words aren't eloquent; eloquent words aren't true. Wise men don't need to prove their point; men who need to prove their point aren't wise. The Master has no possessions. The more he does for others, the happier he is. The more he gives to others, the wealthier he is. The Tao nourishes by not forcing. By not dominating, the Master leads.
Darkness within darkness. The gateway to all understanding.
Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity.
Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know. Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity. Be like the Tao. It can't be approached or withdrawn from, benefited or harmed, honored or brought into disgrace. It gives itself up continually. That is why it endures.
The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.
If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never be truly fulfilled.
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 knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know.
He who stands on tiptoe does not stand firm.
Yet mystery and imagination arise from the same source. This source is called darkness ... Darkness within darkness, the gateway to all understanding.
Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner.
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
According to the ancient Chinese proverb, A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
See simplicity in the complicated. Achieve greatness in little things
The sage does not attempt anything very big, and thus achieves greatness.
Great accomplishment seems imperfect, Yet it does not outlive its usefulness. Great fullness seems empty, Yet it cannot be exhausted.
A tree that is unbending, is easily broken.