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Title: Tao Te Ching Authors: Lao Tzu Category:supplementals Number of Highlights: 20 Date: 2022-07-17 Last Highlighted: **
Highlights
In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, donât try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present. When you are content to be simply yourself and donât compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
Tags:perspective,favorite,present,wisdom
Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about peopleâs approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.
Tags:work:life,stress,boundaries,favorite
Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame. Therefore the Master fulfills her own obligations and corrects her own mistakes. She does what she needs to do and demands nothing of others.
Tags:favorite,perspective,progress,failing,stoic
See the world as your self. Have faith in the way things are. Love the world as your self; then you can care for all things.
Giving birth and nourishing, having without possessing, acting with no expectations, leading and not trying to control: this is the supreme virtue.
Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe.
Tags:present
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.
Tags:perception,favorite,gratitude
True words arenât eloquent; eloquent words arenât true. Wise men donât need to prove their point; men who need to prove their point arenât wise.
Tags:speaking
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
Tags:intelligence,favorite,wisdom,influence
The Master doesnât seek fulfillment. Not seeking, not expecting, she is present, and can welcome all things.
Because he believes in himself, he doesnât try to convince others. Because he is content with himself, he doesnât need othersâ approval. Because he accepts himself, the whole world accepts him.
Tags:leadership
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants. A good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is.
Tags:perception,present,problem_solving
Not-knowing is true knowledge. Presuming to know is a disease. First realize that you are sick; then you can move toward health. The Master is her own physician. She has healed herself of all knowing. Thus she is truly whole.
I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion.
Tags:virtues
Those who know donât talk. Those who talk donât know.
Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results.
Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place.
The Master doesnât talk, he acts. When his work is done, the people say, âAmazing: we did it, all by ourselves!â
Tags:leadership
If you want to become whole, let yourself be partial. If you want to become straight, let yourself be crooked. If you want to become full, let yourself be empty. If you want to be reborn, let yourself die. If you want to be given everything, give everything up.
The Master sees things as they are, without trying to control them. She lets them go their own way, and resides at the center of the circle.