Laozi

There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war.

True perfection seems imperfect,_x000D_ _x000D_ yet it is perfectly itself._x000D_ _x000D_ True fullness seems empty,_x000D_ _x000D_ yet it is fully present._x000D_ _x000D_ True straightness seems crooked._x000D_ _x000D_ True wisdom seems foolish._x000D_ _x000D_ True art seems artless._x000D_ _x000D_ The Master allows things to happen._x000D_ _x000D_ She shapes events as they come._x000D_ _x000D_ She steps out of the way_x000D_ _x000D_ and lets the Tao speak for itself.

Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The less one knows.

A sound man is good at salvage, at seeing nothing is lost

Learn to lead in a nourishing manner. _x000D_ _x000D_ Learn to lead without being possessive. _x000D_ _x000D_ Learn to be helpful without taking the credit. _x000D_ _x000D_ Learn to lead without coercion.

Deal with it before it happens. Set things in order before there is confusion.

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.

Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.

Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.

The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'

Once upon a time a man whose ax was missing suspected his neighbor's son. The boy walked like a thief, looked like a thief and spoke like a thief. But the man found his ax while digging in the valley, and the next time he saw his neighbor's son, the boy walked, looked and spoke like any other child.

Man, when living, is soft and tender; when dead, he is hard and tough. All animals and plants when living are tender and delicate; when dead they become withered and dry. Therefore it is said: the hard and tough are parts of death; the soft and tender are parts of life.

One's own self or material goods, which has more worth?_x000D_ _x000D_ Loss (of self) or possession (of goods), which is the greater evil?_x000D_ _x000D_ He who loves most, spends most,_x000D_ _x000D_ He who hoards much loses much

The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.

Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.

The ruler attains wholeness in the correct governance of the people.

The world is ruled by letting things take their course. It cannot be ruled by interfering.

Who is there who can make muddy waters clear? But if allowed to remain still, it will gradually clear itself.

How can a man's life keep it's course If he will not let it flow, Those who flow as life flows know They need no other force: They feel no wear, they feel no tear, They need no mending, no repair.

Stop leaving and you will arrive, Stop searching and you will see, Stop running away and you will be found.

Through return to simple living comes control of desires. In control of desires stillness is attained. In stillness the world is restored.