Classic quotes from the Tao Te Ching

1. Everything in the world is born from being, and being is born from nothing.

2. If you abandon the sage and abandon wisdom, the people will benefit a hundredfold; if you abandon the benevolent and righteous, the people will return to filial piety and kindness; if you abandon the skillful and profitable, there will be no thieves. These three are considered literary and insufficient. Therefore, the order is to belong to something: see simplicity and embrace simplicity, think less and have few desires, and learn without worries.

3. He does not rely on saints, he does not rely on his achievements, and he does not want to see virtuous people.

4. Those who know do not speak, and those who speak do not know. For more quotes from Laozi, please pay attention to related articles on the Xigutang Chinese Studies website.

5. A husband who is polite and loyal will lead to chaos.

6. The tree that hugs each other is born from the smallest grain; the nine-story platform starts from tired soil; a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

7. A soldier is an unlucky weapon, something that may be evil, so there is no place for those who are wise.

8. Rule the country with integrity, use military force with dexterity, and conquer the world with nothing. How do I know this? According to this: there are many taboos in the world, but the people are poor; there are many people with sharp weapons, and the country is weak; there are many people with clever tricks, and strange things are everywhere; with laws and regulations, there are many thieves. Therefore, the sage said: "I do nothing, but the people become themselves; I like to be quiet, and the people are upright; I have nothing to do, and the people become rich; I have no desires, and the people are simple."

9. You can know the world without leaving home; you can see the way of heaven without peeking into the house. Its journey is far away and its knowledge is limited. Therefore, the sage knows without doing, understands without seeing, and achieves without doing.

10. The people are hungry because of the large food tax. The people are difficult to treat because of the efforts made above. The people despise death because they seek to survive. The husband who has nothing to do with life is a wise man who values ??life.

11. The more you learn, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more you lose. Damage after damage, to the point of doing nothing.

12. Thirty spokes, one hub, if it is not there, it can be used as a car. The 叟埴 is regarded as a utensil, but it should be used as a utensil if it is not there. Cut out the door to make a room, pretend it doesn't exist, and use it as a room if there is one. Therefore, if you have it, you will benefit from it, and if you don’t have it, you will use it.

13. A person who is good at being a soldier does not use force; a person who is good at fighting does not get angry; a person who is good at defeating the enemy does not fight; a person who is good at using others is a subordinate. This is called the virtue of not fighting, it is called using people's strength, it is called the ultimate in matching the heaven and the ancients.

14. Kindness makes one brave; frugality makes one broad; one does not dare to be the first in the world, so one can become a leader. Now give up kindness and be brave; give up frugality and be broad; give up the last and be the first; die! A kind husband will win by fighting, and he will be strong by observing. Heaven will save him and protect him with mercy.

15. The reason why Jianghai can be the king of hundreds of valleys is because he is good at controlling it. Therefore, if a sage wants to lead the people, he must speak to the people; if he wants to precede the people, he must speak to the people behind him. Therefore, when a sage is at the top, the people do not take him seriously, and when he is at the front, the people do not harm him. Therefore, the world is happy to push forward and never tire of it. Because he does not fight, no one in the world can fight with him.

16. I have three treasures, which I must hold on to and protect: the first is compassion, the second is frugality, and the third is not daring to be the first in the world.

17. The Skynet is vast, sparse but not missing.

18. People are weak in life and strong in death. Plants and trees are soft and brittle when they are alive, and they are withered when they die. Therefore, the strong are the disciples of death, and the weak are the disciples of life. Therefore, if the army is strong, it will be destroyed, and if the wood is strong, it will be broken. The strong is at the bottom, the weak is at the top.

19. Those who are in great states are inferior to women in the world, and they are the friends of the world. The female often wins over the male by being quiet, and the male is inferior by being quiet. Therefore, if a big state is lower than a small state, then it is a small state; if a small state is lower than a big state, then it is a big state. Therefore, you can either go down to get it, or you can go down and get it. A big country only wants to be a domestic and a human being, and a small country only wants to be a foreigner. Both husbands each get what they want, and the bigger one should be the lower one.

20. If a great achievement is lacking, its use will not be harmful. If there is a big surplus, it will be of endless use. Great straightness is like bending, great skill is like clumsiness, great debate is like indifference.

21. If a man makes a promise lightly, he will be distrustful; if it is easy, it will be difficult. Therefore, it is still difficult for the sage, so it will not be difficult in the end.

22. Its government is boring, but its people are honest; its government is chaotic, but its people are lacking. Therefore, the sage is square but not cutting, honest but not prudent, straight but not unruly, bright but not dazzling.

23. There is no greater disaster than dissatisfaction; no greater fault than desire. Therefore, knowing what is enough is always enough.

24. There is no one in the world who is soft and weak as water, and no one who attacks the strong can win, because it is impossible to defeat it.

25. For example, the Tao is in the world, just like the rivers and valleys are in the rivers and seas.

26. If it is crooked, it will be complete; if it is wrong, it will be straight; if it is hollow, it will be full; if it is hollow, it will be new; if it is less, it will be more; if it is too much, it will be confusing.

27. My words are easy to understand and easy to do. No one in the world can know it, and no one can do it.

28. The words of faith are not beautiful, and the words of good faith are not believed.

A good person does not argue, and a person who debates is not good. A person who knows is not knowledgeable, and a person who is knowledgeable does not know.

29. Those who were good in ancient times would not enlighten the people, but they would make them stupid. The people are difficult to govern because of their wisdom. Therefore, if you govern a country with wisdom, you will be a traitor to the country; if you do not govern a country with wisdom, you will be a blessing to the country.

30. The heaven and earth are unkind and treat all things as stupid dogs; the saints are unkind and treat the common people as stupid dogs.

31. Existence and non-being complement each other, difficulty and ease complement each other, long and short complement each other, high and low complement each other, sounds harmonize each other, and front and rear follow each other. Heng Ye.

32. Those who are good will be good to me; those who are not good will be good to me; virtue is good. Those who believe, I believe; those who do not believe, I also believe; virtue is trustworthy.

33. Misfortunes lie on the back of blessings, and blessings lie on the backs of misfortunes. Who knows the extreme? There is nothing right about it. The good ones become strange again, and the good ones become monsters again. People's confusion lasts for a long time.

34. The way of heaven is to benefit but not to harm; the way of saints is to act without fighting.

35. There is no greater disaster than underestimating the enemy. Underestimating the enemy will cost us our treasure. Therefore, if the resistance is similar, the one who mourns will win.

36. If you want to eliminate something, you must expand it; if you want to weaken it, you must strengthen it; if you want to abolish it, you must strengthen it; if you want to take it, you must strengthen it. It's called twilight.

37. Live in a good place, have a good heart, be kind and benevolent, speak good words and have good faith, govern well, do good things and be able to do good things at the right time. The husband does not fight, so there is no need for you.

38. If you dare, you will kill; if you dare not, you will live. Both of these may be beneficial or harmful. Who knows why Heaven is evil?

39. Forever. The reason why heaven and earth can be long-lasting is because they do not generate themselves, so they can live forever. Therefore, the sage follows his body and comes first; his body is outside and his body exists. Isn’t it because of his selflessness? Therefore, it can be done privately.

40. What people hate is being alone, widowed, and destitute, but the princes think they are famous.

41. Governing a big country is like cooking small dishes.

42. The best is like water. Water is good for all things and does not compete with it. It is disliked by everyone, so it is close to the Tao.

43. When it comes to governing people and nature, nothing should be done more than being stingy.

44. Do nothing but do everything. To conquer the world, it is often necessary to have nothing to do, and even if there is something to do, it is not enough to conquer the world.

45. Those who strive for success will not be established; those who cross will not be able to do it; those who see themselves are not clear; those who are self-righteous will not show themselves clearly; those who cut themselves off will have no success; those who are proud of themselves will not grow.

46. If you love too much, you will spend a lot of money; if you hide too much, you will perish. Therefore, if you know what is enough, you will not be disgraced, and if you know how to stop, you will not perish, and you can last a long time.

47. Things grow old when they are strong. This is called immorality, which has already happened. For more quotes from Laozi, please pay attention to related articles on the Xigutang Chinese Studies website.

48. What others teach, I also teach. Those who are strong will not be allowed to die, and I will be their godfather.

49. Tao is born, virtue is the animal, physical form is the form, and potential is the result. Therefore, all things respect Tao and value virtue.

50. If you deal with big grievances, there will always be residual grievances; if you repay grievances with virtue, can you do good?

51. If you don’t respect the virtuous, the people will not fight; if you don’t value hard-to-find goods, the people will not steal; if you don’t see the desirable, the people will not be confused. Therefore, the rule of the sage is to make his heart weak, his belly strong, his ambition weak, and his bones strong. It often makes people ignorant and desireless. A wise man would not dare to do anything. If you do nothing, everything will be cured.

52. The respect of Tao and the nobility of virtue are always natural. Therefore, Tao gives birth to it, virtue brings it to animals; grows it, nurtures it; matures it, matures it; nourishes it, and overthrows it. Born without being, doing without relying on, growing without killing. It is called Xuande.

53. He who knows others is wise, and he who knows himself is wise. He who conquers others is powerful, and he who conquers himself is strong. He who is content is rich. The strong have the will. Those who do not lose their place will last forever. He who dies but does not die will live longer. Because in the end he does not think he is great, he can become great.

54. You must be afraid of what people fear.

55. To dampen the sharpness, resolve the confusion, harmonize the light, and be the same as the dust, this is called "Xuantong". Therefore, if you are not available, you will be close; if you are not available, you will be distant; if you are not available, you will benefit; if you are not available, you will be harmed; if you are not available, you will be noble; if you are not available, you will be humble. Therefore, it is noble in the world.

56. There is a way in the world, but it is just like dung. There is no way in the world, and soldiers and horses are born in the suburbs.

57. People are not afraid of death, so why should they be afraid of death? If the people are constantly afraid of death, and if someone is found strange, I will kill them, who dares?

58. It is the universal practice for a saint to hold one in his arms. It is not self-seeing, so it is clear; it is not self-righteous, so it is manifest; it is not self-cutting, so it is meritorious; it is not self-conscious, so it is long-lasting. My husband does not fight, so no one in the world can fight with him.

59. Saints are often careless and take the hearts of the people as their heart.

60. The Tao always does nothing but does everything.

61. From birth to death.

There are three out of ten people who will be born, three out of ten people will be affected by death, and three out of ten people will be affected by death.

62. Therefore, the Tao is big, the sky is big, the earth is big, and people are also big. There are four major ones in the domain, and humans live in one of them.

63. Good things happen to the left, bad things happen to the right. The general on the left is on the left, and the general on the right is on the right. It is said that they will be treated as funerals. Those who kill people should mourn and weep, and those who are victorious should be given funeral rites.

64. The immortality of the Grain God is called the mysterious female. The gate of Xuanfei is called the root of heaven and earth. If it persists, it will not be used diligently.

65. A small country with few people. It makes the people have rare weapons but does not use them; it makes the people die again and not move far away. Although there are boats and carriages, there is nothing to ride on them; although there are armor and soldiers, there is nothing to display them. Let the people knot the rope again and use it.

66. Who is related to name and body? Which one has more body or goods? Which disease is good or bad?

67. Cultivate it in the body, and its virtue will be true; cultivate it in the family, and its virtue will be residual; cultivate it in the village, and its virtue will be long; cultivate it in the country, and its virtue will be rich; cultivate it in the world, and its virtue will be rich. Denap. Therefore, observe the body through the body, observe the family through the family, observe the township through the township, observe the state through the state, and observe the world through the world. How can I know what is going on in the world? With this.

68. Quietness beats impatience, cold beats heat. Tranquility is the righteousness of the world.

69. The five colors make one blind; the five tones make one deaf; the five tastes make one’s mouth refresh; the pursuit of hunting makes one’s heart go crazy; the rare goods make one’s journey difficult. This is because the sage is his belly and not his eyes, so he goes to that place and takes this one.

70. The way of heaven is like a bow and a bow? Those who are high will suppress it, those who are low will lift it; those who have more will lose it, and those who are deficient will make up for it. The way of heaven is to make up for the deficiency when there is excess damage. This is not the case in the way of man. The loss is not enough and there is more than enough. Who has enough to serve the world, only the Taoist.

71. Everyone in the world knows that beauty is beautiful, but this is evil. Everyone knows that good is good, but this is not good.

72. The most soft in the world is the strongest in the world. Nothing enters the realm of infinity, so I know that nothingness is beneficial.

73. When a sergeant hears the Tao, he practices it diligently; when a sergeant hears the Tao, he either survives or perishes; when a junior officer hears the Tao, he laughs. Not smiling is not enough for the Tao. Therefore, there are some suggestions: To know the way is like ignorance; to advance is like retreating; to be ignorant is like □; to be superior is like valley; to be broad is like being insufficient; to build virtue is like stealing; to be true is like being humble; to be clear is like humiliation; to be generous without corners; to be great is late; to be great is the sound. Xisheng; the elephant is invisible; the Tao is nameless.

74. In the past, those who got one were: the sky got one to make it clear; the earth got one to make it peaceful; the gods got one to make it spiritual; the grain got one to bring life; the princes got one to make the world right.

75. If the people are not afraid of authority, great authority will come.

76. People often succeed and fail in their pursuits. If you are as careful as you are at the end, you will never fail.

77. Favor and disgrace are like frights, and noble people are like big troubles.

78. Words have their own principles, and everything has their own king. I am ignorant, because I don’t know.

79. If you are virtuous, you are not virtuous, so you are virtuous; if you are virtuous, you are not virtuous, so you are not virtuous. The superior virtue is nothing but thought; the inferior virtue is nothing but thought. The superior benevolence does it without thinking; the superior righteousness does it without thinking. If you don't respond to the gift, you will throw it away. Therefore, losing virtue will lead to virtue, losing virtue will lead to benevolence, losing benevolence will lead to righteousness, and losing righteousness will lead to propriety.

80. It is better to stay focused than to talk too much.

81. The Tao can be Tao, but it is very Tao. Famous, very famous. The nameless beginning of heaven and earth; the named mother of all things.

82. Things are mixed together, born innately and on earth. Silent and desolate, independent without changing, moving around without dying, she can be the mother of heaven and earth. I don't know its name. The word "Qiang" is called Dao, and the name of "Qiang" is Da. The big day is called passing, the passing day is said to be far away, and the far away day is called reverse.

83. Doing nothing, doing nothing, and tasteless.

84. If you hold on to it and gain it, it will not be as good as before; if you hold on to it and make it sharp, you will not be able to maintain it for a long time. A house full of gold and jade cannot be guarded by anyone; if you are arrogant and rich, you will be blamed for it. After the merits have been restored, this is the way of heaven.

85. Weakness is better than strength. Fish cannot be escaped from the abyss, and the sharp weapons of the country cannot be shown to others.

86. Enjoy your food, enjoy your clothes, live comfortably, and be happy with your customs. Neighboring countries look at each other, hear the sound of cocks and dogs, and the people do not interact with each other until they grow old and die.

87. The weak can overcome the strong, and the soft can overcome the hard. No one in the world knows it, and no one can do it.

88. There is a name in the beginning, and the name is already there. You will also know the stop, and knowing the stop can not be destroyed.

89. Heaven and earth are united to bring down nectar, and the people will not be ordered to do so but will be even.

90. Teaching without words and doing nothing will bring benefits to the world.

91. Heaviness is the root of lightness, tranquility is the king of impatience. If you are gentle, you will lose your roots; if you are impatient, you will lose your authority.

92. Tao gives birth to one, gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things. All things bear yin and embrace yang, and the energy is in harmony.

93. The common people are so bright, but I am so confused. The common people look at me, but I am alone.

94. When the great righteousness fails, there is benevolence and righteousness; when wisdom emerges, there is great hypocrisy; when relatives are in discord, there is filial piety; when the country is in confusion, there are loyal ministers.

95. If you know something but don’t know it, it’s okay; if you don’t know it, it’s a disease. The sage is not sick, but he is sick by his illness. Wu Wei is sick, so he is not sick.

96. The picture is more difficult than the simplicity, and the details are greater than the details. The difficult things in the world must be done in the easy way, and the great things in the world must be done in the details. Therefore, the saint is not great in the end, so he can become great.

97. Man follows the earth, earth follows the heaven, heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature.

98. No matter where you live, no matter where you live. Husband never gets tired of it, so he never gets tired of it. Therefore, the saint knows himself but does not see himself; he loves himself but does not value himself. So go to that one and take this one.

99. Your Majesty, I don’t know about it; secondly, praise it as a relative; secondly, fear it; thirdly, insult it. If you don't believe it enough, you don't believe it.

100. Hope to be natural. Therefore, the wind does not last forever, and the showers last all day.