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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

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
Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.
LAOZI

Inspirational Intelligent Positivity
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
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
Be as the still mountain; Move like the great river.
LAOZI

Great Mountain Move River
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
Fail to honor people, they fail to honor you.
LAOZI

Fail Honor People
Mastering others is strength. Mastering oneself makes you fearless.
LAOZI

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

Mourn Triumph Weapon
The master accomplishes more and more by doing less and less until finally he accomplishes everything by doing nothing.
LAOZI

Accomplish Doing Master Nothing
I am wearied, as if I lacked a home to go to.
LAOZI

Compassion Home Lack 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
. . . 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

Idea Past Possessed Truth
When pure sincerity forms within, it is outwardly realized in other people’s hearts.
LAOZI

Heart Love People Realize
Health is the greatest possession.
LAOZI

Health Possession Wealth
A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants.
LAOZI

Artist Good Intuition Need Person
The sage is not ill, because he sees illness as illness.
LAOZI

Health Illness Knowledge Sage Taoism
Conquering others requires force. Conquering oneself requires strength
LAOZI

Motivational Strength Wisdom
For the wise man looks into space and he knows there is no limited dimensions.
LAOZI

Business Limited Wisdom Wise
Excellent warriors are not violent.
LAOZI

Excellent Taoism Violent Warrior
Happiness perches on misery. Misery crouches beneath happiness.
LAOZI

Crouch Happiness Misery
An integral being knows without going, sees without looking, and accomplishes without doing.
LAOZI

Accomplish Action Inspirational Integral
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

Deep Honor Inspirational Life
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
Filling all the way to the brim is not as good as halting in time.
LAOZI

Brim Fill Halt Taoism Way
Every step is on the path.
LAOZI

Every Follow Journey Path Step Taoism
Wear down to be renewed.
LAOZI

Country Life People Renew Taoism

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.

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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.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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