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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.

Laozi

All men desire to free themselves solely from death; they do not know how to free themselves from life.
LAOZI

Desire Men Taoism Themselves
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
Softness triumphs over hardness, feebleness over strength. What is more malleable is always superior over that which is immoveable. This is the principle of controlling things by going along with them, of mastery through adaptation.
LAOZI

Mastery Principles Superior Triumph
The more weapons of violence, the more misery to mankind. The triumph of violence ends in a festival of mourning.
LAOZI

Mourn Triumph Weapon
A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
LAOZI

Deem Humorous Love Witty
Good words shall gain you honor in the marketplace, but good deeds shall gain you friends among men.
LAOZI

Deed Honor Marketplace Men
Make the small big and the few many.
LAOZI

Big Few Make Small Taoism
Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man’s tools. He uses them only when he has no choice.
LAOZI

Choice Instrument Men Tool Weapon Wise
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
For the wise man looks into space and he knows there is no limited dimensions.
LAOZI

Business Limited Wisdom Wise
A vessel is formed from a lump of clay with care, however, it is the empty space within the vessel that makes it useful.
LAOZI

Care Clay Form Space Vessel
Empty yourself of everything. Let the mind become still. The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches their return. They grow and flourish and then return to the source. Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature.
LAOZI

Animal Empty Everything Fall Nature
Be as the still mountain; Move like the great river.
LAOZI

Great Mountain Move River
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 Great Tao flows everywhere, to the left and to the right, all things depend on it to exist, and it does not abandon them. To its accomplishments it lays no claims. It loves and nourished all things, but does not lord it over them.
LAOZI

Abandon Accomplishment Inspirational
Wear down to be renewed.
LAOZI

Country Life People Renew Taoism
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.
LAOZI

Dream Opportunity Success Weed
There was something that finished chaos, born before Heaven and Earth.
LAOZI

Earth Finish Heaven Something Taoism
When the Way is lost there is virtue. When virtue is lost there is benevolence. When benevolence is lost there is righteousness. When righteousness is lost there are rituals.
LAOZI

Taoism Virtue Way
The sage is not ill, because he sees illness as illness.
LAOZI

Health Illness Knowledge Sage Taoism
To lead, one must follow.
LAOZI

Follow Leadership Must People Vlife
All action begins in rest… This is the ultimate truth.
LAOZI

Action Truth Ultimate
Heavy is the root of light.
LAOZI

heavy Light Root Taoism
Keep behind, and you shall be put in front; keep out, and you shall be kept in.
LAOZI

Behind Compassion Humility
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
If there is to be peace in the home, There must be peace in the heart.
LAOZI

Heart Home Nature Peace
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

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.

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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.

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Popular Authors

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