Lao Tzu’s Quotes That Tell A Lot About Ourselves

[Music] he who conquers others is strong he who conquers himself is mighty he who knows that enough is enough will always have enough the snow goose need not bath to make itself white neither need you do anything but be yourself one who is too insistent on his own views finds few to agree with him when i let you go of what i am i become what i might be man's enemies are not demons but humans like himself at the center of your being you have the answer you know who you are and you know what you want knowing others is wisdom knowing yourself is enlightenment when you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete everybody will respect you he who controls others may be powerful but he who has mastered himself is mightier still be content with what you have rejoice in the way things are when you realize there is nothing lacking the whole world belongs to you an ant on the move does more than a dozen ox do the difficult things while they're easy and do the great things while they're small a journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step life and death are one thread the same line viewed from different sides great acts are made up of small deeds [Music] in dwelling live close to the ground in thinking keep to the simple in conflict be fair and generous and governing don't try to control in work do what you enjoy in family life be completely present life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes don't resist them that only creates sorrow let reality be a reality let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like [Music] the wicked leader is he who the people despise the good leader is he who the people revere the great leader is he who the people say we did it ourselves govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish do not overdo it [Music] to lead people walk behind them mastering others is strength mastering yourself is true power [Music] a nation is filled with strife then do patriots flourish when the best leaders work is done the people say we did it ourselves of all that is good sublimity is supreme succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful father insists the agreement of all that is just perseverance is the foundation of all actions [Music] the sage does not hoard the more he helps others the more he benefits himself the more he gives to others the more he gets himself the way of heaven does one good but never does one harm the way of the sage is to act but not to compete [Music] he who obtains has little he who scatters has much [Music] people in your handlings of affairs often fail when they're about to succeed if one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning there will be no failure [Music] treat those who are good with goodness and also treat those who are not good with goodness thus goodness is attained be honest to those who are honest and be also honest to those who are not honest thus honesty is attained from caring comes courage [Music] the wise man does not layer of his own treasures the more he gives to others the more he has for his own the key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness if you would take you must first give this is the beginning of intelligence i have just three things to teach simplicity patience compassion these three are your greatest treasures those who have knowledge don't predict those who predict don't have knowledge the power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end of your days the words of truth are always paradoxical being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage kindness in words creates confidence kindness in thinking creates profoundness kindness in giving creates love love is of all passions the strongest for it attacks simultaneously the head the heart and the senses because of great love one is courageous [Music] i do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do i serve any 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 simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline simulated fear postulates courage simulated weakness postulates strength he who does not trust enough will not be trusted if you do not change direction you may end up where you are headed without staring abroad one can know the whole world without looking out of the window one can see the way of heaven the further one goes the less one knows the softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world if you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened the point cannot long preserve its sharpness fill your ball to the brim and it will spill keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt one cannot reflect in streaming water only those who know eternal peace can give it to others ambition has one heel nailed in well though she stretches her fingers to touch the heavens the tar that can be told is not the eternal tower the name that can be named is not the eternal name the nameless is the origin of heaven and earth the named is the mother of all things violence even well intentioned always rebounds upon oneself to the mind that is still the whole universe surrenders respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment mind takes his law from the earth the earth takes its law from heaven heaven takes his law from the tower the law of the tal is its being what it is he who knows does not speak he who speaks does not know since their words are not fine fine words are not sincere to know yet to think that one does not know is best not to know yet to think that one nose will lead to difficulty nothing is softer or more flexible than water yet nothing can resist it [Music] music in the soul can be heard by the universe all difficult things have their origin and that which is easy and great things in that which is small if you realize that all things change there is nothing you would try to hold on to if you are not afraid of dying there is nothing you cannot achieve heaven is long enduring and earth continues long the reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is that they do not live off or for themselves [Music] if the great way perishes there will morality and duty when cleverness and knowledge arise great lies will flourish when relatives fall out with one another there will be filial duty and love when states are in confusion there will be faithful servants how could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men the higher the sun arise it the less shadow that it cast even so the greater is the goodness the less dart it covets praise yet cannot avoid its rewarding honors anticipate the difficult by managing the easy nature does not hurry yet everything is accomplished he who talks more is sooner exhausted health is the greater possession contaminant is the greatest treasure confidence is the greatest friend non