Laozi

Is not the action of nature like the stretching of a bow? The high, it pulls down; the low, it lifts up; It takes from what is in excess In order to make good of what is deficient. Who can take what they have in excess and offer it to others?

The gentlest thing in the world overcomes the hardest thing in the world. That which has no substance enters where there is no space. This shows the value of non-action. Teaching without words, performing without actions: that is the Master's way.

Practice not-doing and everything will fall into place.

The Master views the parts with compassion, because he understands the whole. His constant practice is humility. He doesn't glitter like a jewel but lets himself be shaped by the Tao, as rugged and common as a stone.

Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.

I confess that there is nothing to teach: no religion, no science, no writings which will lead your mind back to Spirit. Today I speak this way, tomorrow that, but always the Path is beyond words and beyond mind.

Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here.

Those who praise victory relish manslaughter. Those who relish manslaughter cannot reach their goals in the world.

Battles are followed by years of famine.

First, we must do our own personal work, then we tend the necessary work of our family, then our community, then the world.

The more laws that are written, the more criminals are produced.

One who is too insistent on his own views, finds few to agree with him.

When the Way governs the world, the proud stallions drag dung carriages. When the Way is lost to the world, war horses are bred outside the city.

He who knows how to be aggressive, and yet remains patient, becomes a receptacle for all of Nature's lessons.

Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame. Therefore the Master fulfills her own obligations and corrects her own mistakes. She does what she needs to do and demands nothing of others.

The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.

Superior leaders get things done with very little motion. They impart instruction not through many words, but through a few deeds. They keep informed about everything but interfere hardly at all. They are catalysts, and though things would not get done as well if they were not there, when they succeed they take no credit. And, because they take no credit, credit never leaves them.

Misery is what happiness rests upon. Happiness is what misery lurks beneath.

Embrace simplicity. Put others first. Desire little.

Favor and disgrace are like fear. Favor is in a higher place, and disgrace in a lower place. When you win them you are like being in fear, and when you lose them you are also like being in fear. So favor and disgrace are like fear.

Not knowing of the eternal leads to unfortunate errors.