Tao Te Ching

by Lao Tzu

Not to desire material things is to know the freedom of spirituality;

They treasure innocence, and protect the simple from the schemes of the clever.

No one knows from where it came. It is older than the gods.

The wise are also impartial; to them all people are equal and alike.

they do not exist for themselves.

The wise humble themselves— and because of their humility, they are worthy of praise. They put others first, and so become great.

They are not focused on outcomes or achievements; therefore they always succeed.

True goodness is like water; it nurtures everything and harms nothing. Like water, it ever seeks the lowest place, the place that all others avoid. This is the way of the Tao.

To win true merit—to earn a good reputation— you must be prudent. This is the way of the Tao.

In measuring out rewards, wise rulers act like mother birds. While seeing into every corner, they are unobtrusive. While protecting the people, they do not control them. They are motherly and fatherly, but not domineering. They persuade with words, not weapons. This is their crowning virtue.

Everything that lives has a physical body, but the value of a life is measured by the soul.

The wise attend to the inner truth of things and are not fooled by outward appearances. They ignore matter and seek the spirit.

Yet, by holding fast to the ancient Tao, the wise may grasp the present, because they understand the past.

To glimpse the secret of the Tao, you must keep still and quiet your mind.

vacuity.

tranquility.

The Tao is divine. The Tao is the Eternal. Death is not to be feared.

How carefully wise rulers choose their words; how simple are their actions.

Under such a government, the people think they are ruling themselves.

Here are the four fundamentals of true spirituality: recognize simplicity, cherish purity, reduce your possessions, diminish your desires.

The Tao is eternal and unceasing— it is present at all beginnings.

Not striving, they will become enlightened; not asserting themselves, they will become distinguished; not boasting, they will be praised; not building up themselves, they will endure. As much as they embrace the world, the world will embrace them.

Just as earth and sky return to peace, so should we.

Humanity is the child of earth; Earth is the child of the universe; The universe is the child of the Tao.

The wise, trusting in goodness, see the potential in others, treating no one as an outcast. Trusting in goodness, they redeem all things— nothing is worthless to them. They recognize hidden value. The wise take the lost under their wings, and so the lost become newfound treasures of the wise. Each is valuable to the other. This is the significance of spirituality.

The wise respect the roles of all, and seek moderation in all things.

If you follow the Tao, you will understand where to stop. Knowing where to stop, you will be free from danger.

The great Tao is everywhere! It is on both the right and the left. All things rely upon it for their existence, and it sustains them. It draws praise, but is not proud. It lovingly nourishes everything, and is not possessive. It desires nothing, and so it is considered small. Yet everything returns to it, and so it should be considered great. The wise do not appear great among others; and so they reveal their true greatness.

The world will go to those who seek the Tao; they will find contentment, peace, and rest.

It is paradoxical but true— the tender outlasts the rigid; the gentle defeats the strong.

The way of the Tao is simple— stop striving, defeat desire. In the absence of striving, there is peace; in the absence of desire, there is satisfaction.

Tradition is the mere flower of the Tao— apart from its root it withers and dies.

They do not put on a show of virtue— they practice it.

Great rulers identify with orphans, inferiors, and the unworthy, because they recognize their roots in the lowest of their people. The wise do not desire to be set aside as precious gems, nor discarded as worthless stones.

All things contain both the negative principle (yin) and the positive principle (yang). The third principle, energetic vitality (chi), makes them harmonious. There are some things which it is a gain to lose, and a loss to gain.

The soft overcomes the hard; the flexible conquers the stiff; the ethereal penetrates the solid. This is why there is great advantage in stillness and silence over movement and speaking. But few ever obtain the advantage, for few practice stillness and silence.

Which is more valuable, riches or good character? Which is more dangerous, failure or success?

Not extreme perfection, but purity and clarity are the targets at which we should aim.

There is no sin greater than desire. There is no misfortune greater than discontent. There is no calamity greater than greed. To know the Tao is to know contentment.

For the Tao gives life to all creatures; and virtue nurses them, raises them, nurtures, matures, and protects them.

Those who watch their mouths and guard their actions will be free from trouble to the end of life.

To recognize your insignificance is empowering. To show sympathy is strength.

One person becomes a model for others, one family for other families, one town for other towns, one nation for other nations, one empire for all empires.

The wise shut their mouths and watch their actions. They dull their sharpness, unravel their tangles, dim their brilliance, and embrace the mysterious. They cannot be moved by praise or blame; they cannot be changed by profit or loss; they cannot be honored or humiliated.

They have different ends; but to achieve them, both must practice submission.

Avoid striving, and practice non-doing. Learn to taste the tasteless, to grow the small things, and to multiply the few. Respond to hatred with kindness. Resolve difficulties while they are easy, and manage great things while they are small. All the world’s

A journey of three thousand miles begins with a single step.

When a person puts on a show, trying to appear great, their mediocrity is soon exposed. The Tao has three treasures which the wise guard and cherish: The first is compassion, the second is economy, the third is humility. If you are compassionate, you can be truly courageous; if you are economical, you can be truly generous;

if you are humble, you can be truly helpful. If you are brave but lack compassion, are generous but lack economy, and try to help others but lack humility, you’ve lost the way. Compassion leads to victory in battle and safety in defense. Fortune blesses the compassionate.

Bring out the best in yourself, and you will bring out the best in others. This is following the Tao. Since ancient days, it is the way of virtue.