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The more weapons of violence, the more misery to mankind. The triumph of violence ends in a festival of mourning.

Laozi

Those who act will fail. Those who seize will lose.
LAOZI

Fail Loses Seize Taoism
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
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
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
What resists, persists.
LAOZI

Emotions Feel Persist Resist
In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.
LAOZI

Being Hard Time Stay Strong
If you want to be given everything, give everything up.
LAOZI

Ching Country People Give Life Taoism
A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
LAOZI

Fulfill Inspirational Leadership Wisdom
Simplicity has no name is free of desires. Being free of desires it is tranquil. And the world will be at peace of it’s own accord.
LAOZI

Being Free Name Simplicity
Take [preventive] action before things happen. Establish order before disorder has begun.
LAOZI

Action Begun Establish Happen Order
The world’s big things only can be done by paying attention to their humble beginnings.
LAOZI

Attention Country Done Emotion Humble People
A multitude of words is tiresome, unlike remaining centered.
LAOZI

Multitudes Taoism Tiresome
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 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
The transformation toward eternal life is gradual. The heavy gross energy of body, mind, and spirit must first be purified and uplifted. When the energy ascends… then self mastery can be sought.
LAOZI

Energy Mind Purify Self
I have the mind of a fool, understanding nothing.
LAOZI

Knowledge Mind Understanding

The more weapons of violence, the more misery to mankind. The triumph of violence ends in a festival of mourning.

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The more weapons of violence, the more misery to mankind. The triumph of violence ends in a festival of mourning.

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