Tao Te Ching – Verse 71
Not-knowing is true knowledge.
Presuming to know is a disease.
First realize that you are sick;
then you can move toward health.
The Master is her own physician.
She has healed herself of all … Read the rest
Category: Taoism
Tao Te Ching – Verse 70 – My teachings are easy to understand and easy to put into practice.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 70
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 … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 69 – Rather than make the first move it is better to wait and see.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 69
The generals have a saying:
“Rather than make the first move
it is better to wait and see.
Rather than advance an inch
it is better to retreat a yard.”
This is called
going … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 68 – The best athlete wants his opponent at his best. The best general enters the mind of his enemy. The best businessman serves the communal good. The best leader follows the will of the people.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 68
The best athlete
wants his opponent at his best.
The best general
enters the mind of his enemy.
The best businessman
serves the communal good.
The best leader
follows the will of the people.… Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 67 – Some say that my teaching is nonsense.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 67
Some say that my teaching is nonsense.
Others call it lofty but impractical.
But to those who have looked inside themselves,
this nonsense makes perfect sense.
And to those who put it into practice,… Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 66 – If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 66
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 … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 65 – The ancient Masters didn’t try to educate the people, but kindly taught them to not-know.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 65
The ancient Masters
didn’t try to educate the people,
but kindly taught them to not-know.
When they think that they know the answers,
people are difficult to guide.
When they know that they don’t … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 64 – Prevent trouble before it arises. Put things in order before they exist.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 64
What is rooted is easy to nourish.
What is recent is easy to correct.
What is brittle is easy to break.
What is small is easy to scatter.
Prevent trouble before it arises.
Put … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 63 – Act without doing; work without effort
Tao Te Ching – Verse 63
Act without doing;
work without effort.
Think of the small as large
and the few as many.
Confront the difficult
while it is still easy;
accomplish the great task
by a series of small … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 62 – The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man’s treasure, the bad man’s refuge.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 62
The Tao is the center of the universe,
the good man’s treasure,
the bad man’s refuge.
Honors can be bought with fine words,
respect can be won with good deeds;
but the Tao is … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 61 – When a country obtains great power, it becomes like the sea: all streams run downward into it.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 61
When a country obtains great power,
it becomes like the sea:
all streams run downward into it.
The more powerful it grows,
the greater the need for humility.
Humility means trusting the Tao,
thus … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 60 – Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 60
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,… Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 59 – For governing a country well there is nothing better than moderation
Tao Te Ching – Verse 59
For governing a country well
there is nothing better than moderation.
The mark of a moderate man is freedom from his own ideas.
Tolerant like the sky,
all-pervading like sunlight,
firm like a mountain,… Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 58 – “If a country is governed with tolerance, the people are comfortable and honest”
Tao Te Ching – Verse 58
If a country is governed with tolerance,
the people are comfortable and honest.
If a country is governed with repression,
the people are depressed and crafty.
When the will to power is in charge,… Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 57 – If you want to be a great leader, you must learn to follow the Tao.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 57
If you want to be a great leader,
you must learn to follow the Tao.
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts,
and the world will govern itself.
The more … Read the rest
Tao Te Ching – Verse 56 – Those who know don’t talk. Those who talk don’t know.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 56
Those who know don’t talk.
Those who talk don’t know.
Close your mouth,
block off your senses,
blunt your sharpness,
untie your knots,
soften your glare,
settle your dust.
This is the primal identity.… Read the rest