Best 485 quotes in «taoism quotes» category

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.

The sturdiest virtue seems fragile.

The Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to yin and yang. Yin and yang give birth to all things... The complete whole is the complete whole. So also is any part the complete whole... But forget about understanding and harmonizing and making all things one. The universe is already a harmonious oneness; just realize it.

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal Name.

The Tao is like a well; used but never used up.

The Tao of the sage is work without effort.

The softest in the world surpasses the hardest in the world.

The Way is empty, yet inexhaustible, like an abyss!

The unyielding army will not win.

The Way is eternal. Until your last day, you are free from peril.

The Way is the source of all things, good people's treasure and bad people's refuge.

The whole world says that my Way is great like nothing else. It is great because it is like nothing else. If it were like everything else, it would long ago have become insignificant.

The world is a sacred vessel that cannot be changed. He who changes it will destroy it. He who seizes it will lose it.

The Way is ever without action, yet nothing is left undone.

The way of heaven is to help and not harm.

Thirty spokes are joined in the wheel's hub. The hole in the middle makes it useful.

Those who are broad-minded and considerate are like the spring breeze, warm and nurturing, at show touch all being grow. Those who are envious an d cruel are like the snow of the northlands, stilling and freezing, at whose touch all beings die.

The virtuous carry out the settlement, but those without virtue pursue their claims.

Those who advice the ruler on the Way, do not want the world subdued with weapons.

Those who are quiet value the words. When their task is completed, people will say: We did it ourselves.

The world's beginning is its mother. To have found the mother is also to know the children. Although you know the children, cling to the mother. Until your last day you will not be harmed.

Those who know do not talk. Those who talk do not know.

Those who praise victory relish manslaughter. Those who relish manslaughter cannot reach their goals in the world.

Those who stand on their toes are not steady.

Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.

To retreat after a work well done is Heaven's Way.

To bear the country's disgrace is to rule the shrines of soil and grain. To bear the country's misfortunes is to be the king of the world.

To be brave without compassion, generous without moderation, and rule without refraining from being first in the world, are certain deaths.

Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.

True words seem false.

True words are not pleasing. Pleasing words are not true.

Use the light to return to clarity.

Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.

Warriors say: I dare not be like the host, but would rather be like the guest. I dare not advance an inch, but would rather retreat a foot.

Water uses itself to go beyond whatever it needs to go beyond.

Weapons are ominous tools. They are not the noble ruler's tools. He only uses them when he can't avoid it.

Weapons are ominous tools. They are abhorred by all creatures. Anyone who follows the Way shuns them.

Unconscious of the existence of Tao, beings live supposing themselves to be separate from the universal intelligence, supposing themselves to be powerful or to be weak, thinking that they live their lives and die their deaths.

We should not weep or cry or be upset when we see the generations pass, because all are forms of the infinite creation. They are not real, they are not eternal.

We create ying and yang, yes and no, plus and minus.

"What's that?" the Unbeliever asked. "Wisdom from the Western Taoist," I said. "It sounds like something from Winnie-the-Pooh," he said. "It is," I said. "That's not about Taoism," he said. "Oh, yes it is," I said.

What's the difference between yes and no?

What the Way is to the world, the stream is to the river and the sea.

What we're seeking to do is become transparent. A transparent window on reality. But that takes time to do. We're starting with a very solid, objectified view of ourselves and existence

When the emperor is crowned or the three dukes are appointed, rather than sending a gift of jade carried by four horses, remain still and offer the Way.

We really have no choice in the matter. We are given a description of the world that is much more potent and much deeper than you might realize.

What is essential to practice the Tao is to get rid of cravings and vexations. If these afflictions are not removed, it is impossible to attain stability. This is like the case of the fertile field, which cannot produce good crops as long as the weeds are not cleared away. Cravings and ruminations are the weeds of the mind; if you do not clear them away, concentration and wisdom do not develop.

When family ties are disturbed, devoted children arise.

When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.

When the rich and well-established, who should be generous, are instead spiteful and cruel, they make their behavior wretched and base in spite of their wealth and position. When the intellectually brilliant, who should be reserved, instead show off, they are ignorant and foolish in their weakness in spite of their brilliance.