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The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.

Laozi

If people live in constant fear of death, and if breaking the law is punished by death, then who would dare?
LAOZI

Country Law People Taoism
Make your heart like a lake, with calm, still surface, and great depths of kindness.
LAOZI

Depth Heart Inspirational Kindness
The more laws that are written, the more criminals are produced.
LAOZI

Criminal Law Taoism
Face the simple fact before it comes involved. Solve the small problem before it becomes big.
LAOZI

Inspirational Problem Simple Small
See others as yourself. See families as your family. See towns as your town. See countries as your country. See worlds as your world.
LAOZI

Compassion Country Taoism Town
In order to eliminate the negative influences, simply ignore them.
LAOZI

Ignore Influence Negative Order
When people see some things as good, other things become bad.
LAOZI

Book Country Life People
From caring comes courage.
LAOZI

Being Inspirational Inspiring Strong
Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return.
LAOZI

Contemplate Heart Mind Peace
The Master doesn’t seek fulfillment. For only those who are not full are able to be used which brings the feeling of completeness.
LAOZI

Able Feeling Taoism Together
Meet the big while it is small.
LAOZI

Big People Small Taoism
If you want to be given everything, give everything up.
LAOZI

Ching Country People Give Life Taoism
One cannot reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others.
LAOZI

Inspirational Internal Peace Spiritual
Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.
LAOZI

Inspirational Intelligent Positivity
When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. When the sage is put to use, he becomes the head.
LAOZI

Perceive Sage Taoism Use
The sage knows himself, but does not parade. He cherishes himself, but does not praise himself.
LAOZI

Cheish Sage Taoism
The seed of mystery lies in muddy water. How can I perceive this mystery? Water becomes clear through stillness. How can I become still? By flowing with the stream.
LAOZI

Lying Mystery Stillness Water
The light of the Way seems dim.
LAOZI

Dim Light Reflection Taoism Way
Take [preventive] action before things happen. Establish order before disorder has begun.
LAOZI

Action Begun Establish Happen Order
The wise man knows without traveling.
LAOZI

Know Man Travel Wise
A foolish man is always doing, Yet much remains to be done.
LAOZI

Done Foolish Man Mad Result
The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.
LAOZI

Heart Matter People Trying Vice
Filling all the way to the brim is not as good as halting in time.
LAOZI

Brim Fill Halt Taoism Way
He who gains a victory over other men is strong; but he who gains a victory over himself is all powerful.
LAOZI

Powerful Strength Strong Victory
Wear down to be renewed.
LAOZI

Country Life People Renew Taoism
In ancient times, those who followed the Way did not try to give people knowledge thereof, but kept them ignorant.
LAOZI

Give Knowledge Ignorant People
Why is the sea king of a hundred streams? Because it lies below them… If the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility. If he would lead them, he must follow behind. In this way when the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed.
LAOZI

Below Humility King Lying People

The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.

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The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.

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