The first time I learned about the classic "Tao Te Ching" was when I was in junior high school. What impressed me at that time was "the Tao can be taught, but it is not Tao; the name can be named, but it is not famous." A famous saying. Then when I was in high school, I developed a strong interest in traditional culture. In college, I became even more fascinated by the classics of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and even hundreds of schools of thought. Let me share some of the most profound sentences from the Tao Te Ching:

1. The Tao can be Tao, but it is not Tao; the name can be named, but it is not famous. ——"Tao Te Ching. Chapter 1"

In our traditional Chinese culture, the core thing is this "Tao", whether it is Confucianism, Taoism, or various schools of thought, all talk about it It is "Tao". This "Tao" is the most primitive thing in the universe. All things are included in the "Tao" and are inseparable from the "Tao", so it is said that "the common people use it every day but don't know it." But what exactly is "Tao"? And it is difficult to express it in words, because as long as it is expressed in words, it is no longer the original eternal "Tao".

Even the "name" of "Tao" is just a temporary and reluctant name, not an eternal "name". So in these two sentences at the beginning, I tell us not to be attached to the literal form, but to read this classic outside the circle, and not to fall into the literal form and be unable to get out.

2. Everyone in the world knows that beauty is beautiful, but this is evil. ——"Tao Te Ching. Chapter 2"

As the saying goes: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." There is no fixed standard for beauty or ugliness. A person is beautiful in your eyes. But in the eyes of others, it may not be beautiful. This varies from person to person and is not the same. Even if it is the same person, when you are in a good mood, they may look beautiful, but when you are in a bad mood, they may not look pleasing to the eye. Therefore, whether it is the beauty or ugliness of people or things, it is impossible to set a universal standard. When we look at the various animals, plants, and everything in nature, which one do you think is beautiful? Which one is ugly? There is no difference, each has its own merits and highlights.

But once people forcefully set a standard of beauty, the concept of natural ugliness will also arise. This is tantamount to man-made opposition. Originally there was no distinction between beauty and ugliness, but now there is. So who wants to be ugly? No one wants to be ugly. Everyone conforms to the standard of beauty and imitates the beautiful look, which is actually not beautiful. They may imitate a different look and even ruin a good body. "The King of Chu has such a thin waist that many people starve to death in the palace." This is a typical example.

3. When a superior man hears the Tao, he practices it diligently; when a sergeant hears the Tao, he lives or perishes; when a junior man hears the Tao, he laughs; if he does not laugh, he is not worthy of the Tao. ——"Tao Te Ching. Chapter 41"

Let's divide people's understanding into three types: upper level, middle level, and lower level. The person with the highest understanding will immediately understand the theories of "Tao" and will actively practice them and implement these theories into daily life. As for people with average understanding, they listen to the theory of "Tao" with half-belief and half-doubt. Sometimes they believe more, sometimes they have more doubts. Sometimes they try to practice it, but soon give up. Most of us , all belong to this category of people. After listening to the theory of "Tao", the person with the lowest understanding cannot understand it at all. He thinks you are telling a story or joking, so he laughs. If he doesn't laugh, it is not enough. It's called "Tao".

The Tao Te Ching, with its five thousand words, is the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancients. It can be said that every sentence is a classic and every sentence is interesting. It is worthy of our repeated reading and careful savoring.