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Covetousness is the greatest misfortune. One who does not know what is enough will never have enough.

Laozi

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
He 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.
LAOZI

Enemy Friend Friendship Honor Men Unconcern
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
In the highest antiquity, the people did not know that there were rulers. In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them.
LAOZI

Age Next People Praise
The True Person benefits yet expects no reward, does the work and moves on. There is no desire to be considered better than others.
LAOZI

Desire Earth Inspirational Move
The great image lacks shape.
LAOZI

Condition Great Image Look Shape Taoism
A foolish man is always doing, Yet much remains to be done.
LAOZI

Done Foolish Man Mad Result
Some lose yet gain, others gain and yet lose
LAOZI

Gain Inspirational Lose People Some
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
That the soft overcomes the hard, and the yielding overcomes the resistant, is a fact known by all, but practiced by few.
LAOZI

Fact Known Overcoming Practice
Mastering others is strength. Mastering oneself makes you fearless.
LAOZI

Inspirational Inspiring Strength
A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants.
LAOZI

Artist Good Intuition Need Person
Man’s enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.
LAOZI

Enemy Human Inspirational Men
When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one embrace, they can be kept from separating.
LAOZI

Animal Intelligent Separate Soul
The ego is entranced by … names and ideas… However names and concepts only block your perception of this Great Oneness. Therefore it is wise to ignore them. Those who live inside their egos are continually bewildered.
LAOZI

Block Concept Name Perception Wise

Covetousness is the greatest misfortune. One who does not know what is enough will never have enough.

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Covetousness is the greatest misfortune. One who does not know what is enough will never have enough.

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Popular Authors

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