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. . . the mind is desperate to fix the river {of events} in place: Possessed by ideas of the past, preoccupied with images of the future, it overlooks the plain truth of the moment.

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
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 world’s beginning is its mother. To have found the mother is also to know the children. Although you know the children, cling to the mother. Until your last day you will not be harmed.
LAOZI

Beginning Children Mother Taoism
The sage acts by doing nothing.
LAOZI

Done Nothing Sage Taoism
To be constantly without desire is the way to have a vision of the mystery of heaven and earth. For constantly to have desire is the means by which their limitations are seen.
LAOZI

Heaven Mean Vision
Wear down to be renewed.
LAOZI

Country Life People Renew Taoism
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
To know you have enough is to be rich.
LAOZI

Country People Rich Simplicity
Instead of being afraid of death, we should try to awake to life; and the only death we should escape from is to forget the presence of God into us.
LAOZI

Death Escape Feel Forget Try
What is a good man but a bad man’s teacher? What is a bad man but a good man’s job? If you do not remember this, You will get lost, No matter how intelligent you are. It is the great secret.
LAOZI

Good Intelligent Job Man Teacher
Giving birth and nourishing, Bearing yet not possessing, Working yet not taking credit, Leading yet not dominating, This is the Primal Virtue.
LAOZI

Country Credit Giving Lead People Tke
A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
LAOZI

Deem Humorous Love Witty
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
Filling all the way to the brim is not as good as halting in time.
LAOZI

Brim Fill Halt Taoism Way
Not praising the deserving prevents envy.
LAOZI

Envy Praise Prevent Taoism
To rejoice in conquest is to rejoice in murder.
LAOZI

Conquest Murder Rejoice

. . . the mind is desperate to fix the river {of events} in place: Possessed by ideas of the past, preoccupied with images of the future, it overlooks the plain truth of the moment.

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. . . the mind is desperate to fix the river {of events} in place: Possessed by ideas of the past, preoccupied with images of the future, it overlooks the plain truth of the moment.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Laozi Quotes