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Lao Tzu)
老子 Lǎozi (4th century B.C.) was a Chinese mystic philosopher; also called Lao Tzu, Lao Tse, or Lao Tze.
Tao Te Ching
The Tao Te Ching (道德經, Pinyin : Dào Dé Jīng, thus sometimes rendered in recent works as Dao De Jing represents the sole document traditionally attributed to the legendary figure "Lao Zi").
- A leader is best when people barely know that he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worst when they despise him. Fail to honor people, They fail to honor you. But of a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done, his aims fulfilled, they will all say, "We did this ourselves."
- Scholars of the highest class, when they hear about the Tao, take it and practice it earnestly. Scholars of the middle class, when they hear of it, take it half earnestly. Scholars of the lowest class, when they hear of it, laugh at it. If it were not laughed at, it would not be fit to be the Tao.
- Wise men don't need to prove their point;
men who need to prove their point aren't wise.
The Master has no possessions.
The more he does for others, the happier he is.
The more he gives to others, the wealthier he is.
The Tao nourishes by not forcing.
By not dominating, the Master leads.
- Chapter 81 (as translated by Stephen Mitchell )
Attributed
There are many translations or paraphrases of the Tao Te Ching available and thus variants abound; many of the major declarations within it are expressed or interpreted in many different ways.
- A journey of a thousand [miles] starts with the first step.
- A true traveller has no fixed plan, and is not intent on arriving.
- Above all, do not compete.
- By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try, the world is beyond the winning.
- Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
- Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.
- He who knows does not speak; he who speaks does not know.
- He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
- He who obtains has little; he who scatters has much.
- I am not at all interested in immortality, only in the taste of tea.
- Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
- The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.
- The true free living human-being is the one that achieves his dream without depending on someone.
- To see things in the seed, that is genius.
- When a nation is filled with strife, then do patriots flourish.
- When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
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