Laozi Quotes - Page 28

• 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

  Kings, Lying, Humility

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

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• If lightning is the anger of the gods, then the gods are concerned mostly about trees.

  Laozi

  Tree, Lightning, Concerned

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• The sage avoids extremity, excess, and extravagance.

  Laozi

  Taoism, Extravagance, Excess

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• Those who would take over the earth and shape it to their will, never, I notice succeed.

  Laozi

  Earth, Shapes, Succeed

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• Do not conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance. Thorns spring up when an army passes. Years of misery follow a great victory. Do only what needs to be done without using violence.

  Laozi

  Spring, Army, Conquer The World

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• The Way is empty, yet inexhaustible, like an abyss!

  Laozi

  Taoism, Way, Empty

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• Fame of self: Which matters more? Self or wealth: Which is more precious? Gain or loss: Which is more painful?

  Laozi

  Loss, Self, Balance

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

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• Bend and you will be straight.

  Laozi

  Flexibility

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• Water does not force its way.

  Laozi

  Water, Doe, Way

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• The True Person avoids extremes, self-indulgence, and extravagance.

  Laozi

  Inspirational, Self, Extravagance

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• Those who have the courage to dare will perish. Those who have the courage not to dare will live.

  Laozi

  Taoism, Dare

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• The truest sayings are paradoxical.

  Laozi

  Taoism, Paradoxical, Truest

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• Wear down to be renewed.

  Laozi

  Taoism

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• When the great Tao is forgotten, goodness and piety appear. When the body's intelligence declines, cleverness and knowledge step forth. When there is no peace in the family, filial piety begins. When the country falls into chaos, patriotism is born.

  Laozi

  Country, Fall, Body

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• An integral being knows without going,
  sees without looking, and accomplishes without doing.

  Laozi

  Inspirational, Action, Accomplish

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• As restrictions and prohibitions are multiplied the people grow poorer and poorer. When they are subjected to overmuch government, the land is thrown into confusion.

  Laozi

  Government, Land, People

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• First and last follow each other.

  Laozi

  Taoism, Lasts, Firsts

  Laozi (2009). “Lao-tzu's Taoteching: With Selected Commentaries from the Past 2,000 Years”

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• If I have even just a little sense, I will walk on the main road and my only fear will be of straying from it. Keeping to the main road is easy, But people love to be sidetracked.

  Laozi

  Spiritual, People, Justice

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

  11 Copy quote

• We go from birth to death. Three out of ten follow life. Three out of ten follow death. People who rush from birth to death are also three out of ten. Why is that so? Because they want to make too much of life.

  Laozi

  People, Taoism, Three

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• Let the country be small, and the inhabitants few.

  Laozi

  Country, Taoism

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• Therefore the Sage embraces Unity, and is a model for all under Heaven. He is free from self-display, therefore he shines forth; from self-assertion, therefore he is distinguished; from self-glorification, therefore he has merit; from self-exaltation, therefore he rises superior to all. Inasmuch as he does not strive, there is no one in the world who can strive with him.

  Laozi

  Humility, Self, Shining

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• Build up virtue, and you master all.

  Laozi

  Action, Virtue, Masters

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• By compassion one can be brave.

  Laozi

  Compassion, Brave, Taoism

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• Cautious, like crossing a river in the winter.

  Laozi

  Winter, Rivers, Taoism

  Laozi (2007). “Daodejing: The New, Highly Readable Translation of the Life-Changing Ancient Scripture Formerly Known as the Tao Te Ching”, p.55, Open Court

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• When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. When the sage is put to use, he becomes the head.

  Laozi

  Taoism, Use, Sage

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