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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

The sage knows himself, but does not parade. He cherishes himself, but does not praise himself.
LAOZI

Cheish Sage Taoism
The world is ruled by letting things take their course. It cannot be ruled by interfering.
LAOZI

Courses Go Letting World
Be as the still mountain; Move like the great river.
LAOZI

Great Mountain Move River
In ancient times, those who followed the Way did not try to give people knowledge thereof, but kept them ignorant.
LAOZI

Give Knowledge Ignorant People
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
To lead, one must follow.
LAOZI

Follow Leadership Must People Vlife
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 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
Nature is not human hearted.
LAOZI

Enlightening Hearted Nature
Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.
LAOZI

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

Animal Intelligent Separate Soul
. . . 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

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.

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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.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Laozi Quotes