Quotes on Tao

Tao invariably takes no action, and yet there is nothing left undone.

But if you do not have the Tao yourself, what business have you spending your time in vain efforts to bring corrupt politicians into the right path?

The very highest is barely known._x000D_ _x000D_ Then comes that which people know and love,_x000D_ _x000D_ Then that which is feared,_x000D_ _x000D_ Then that which is despised._x000D_ _x000D_ Who does not trust enough will not be trusted.

True depth of understanding is wide and steady,_x000D_ _x000D_ Shallow understanding is lazy and wandering,_x000D_ _x000D_ Words of wisdom are precise and clear

My words are easy to understand and easy to perform,_x000D_ _x000D_ Yet no man under heaven knows them or practices them.

In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.

(The Tao) is always present and always available. . . . If you are willing to be lived by it, you will see it everywhere, even in the most ordinary things.

Yielding is the way of the Tao.

If princes and kings could follow it (Tao), all things would by themselves abide, Heaven and Earth would unite and sweet dew would fall. People would by themselves find harmony, without being commanded.

When the great Tao is abandoned, benevolence and righteousness arise.

From now back to antiquity, its (Tao's) name has not been lost. Thereby, see the origin of all.

It (Tao) is eternally without desire. So, it can be called small. All things return to it, although it does not make itself their ruler. So, it can be called great.

To understand the limitation of things, desire them.

The Tao belongs neither to knowing nor not knowing. Knowing is false understanding; not knowing is blind ignorance. If you really understand the Tao beyond doubt, it's like the empty sky. Why drag in right and wrong?

When a country is in harmony with the Tao, the factories make trucks and tractors. When a country goes counter to the Tao, warheads are stockpiled outside the cities. There is no greater illusion than fear, no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself, no greater misfortune than having an enemy. Whoever can see through all fear will always be safe.

If you can let go of (the Tao) with your mind and surround it with your heart, it will live inside you forever.

My teachings are easy to understand and easy to put into practice. Yet your intellect will never grasp them, and if you try to practice them, you'll fail. My teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning? If you want to know me, look inside your heart.

All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power. If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. If you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them. The Master is above the people, and no one feels oppressed. She goes ahead of the people, and no one feels manipulated. The whole world is grateful to her. Because she competes with no one, no one can compete with her.

Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking. Center your country in the Tao and evil will have no power. Not that it isn't there, but you'll be able to step out of its way. Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.

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.

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