Best of Taoism – Right words sounding wrong

Nothing in this world is as soft and weak as water. Yet nothing is so effective as water at wearing away stones, which are hard and strong. And as it wears away stones, it remains unaltered. Thus softness overcomes hardness; weakness overcomes strength. Everyone knows this; but few people use this knowledge.

Wise people say: ‘By regarding yourself as a sinner, you become virtuous. By regarding yourself as lowly, you become mighty.’ Yes, life is full of paradoxes, in which right words sound wrong.

After a conflict is over, some enmity remains. How can peace be made? Wise people keep to the agreement that was made, but do not make demands on their former enemies.

Those whose power is genuine, concentrate on fulfilling their own obligations. Those whose power is hollow, insist on others fulfilling their obligations.

The way has no favourites; it is on the side of goodness.

Best of Taoism – The lower and the higher

The lake is master of the river that runs into it. Why? Because the lake is lower and the river is higher; and that which is lower, is master of that which is higher.

The wise person, wanting to teach other people, talks to them from below. The wise person, wanting to guide other people, follows them.

So the wise person advises without cajoling, leads without forcing, educates without informing. The wise person never competes for attention for others, knowing that competition is always futile.

As a result, people never tire of listening to the wise person’s words, and praising the wise person’s insight.

Best of Taoism – Small and Easy

Do without doing. Act without action. Taste without tasting any flavour. Treat the small as large, and the few as many.

When you are injured, respond with a kind deed. When you are insulted, respond with a kind word.

When life is easy, prepare for hard times. Solve problems that are small, before they grow large. Remember that even the greatest problems in the world were originally tiny problems.

Thus wise people, by never doing great things, get great things done.

It may be said that, if you only do small tasks, your work will be worthless. It may be said that, if you only do easy tasks, you show yourself to be feeble. But wise people know that by undertaking only small tasks, they achieve much; and that by only doing easy tasks, they show their strength.

Best of Taoism – Knowing and Talking

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

Close every window; shut every door; make every knife blunt; untangle every knot; dim every light. Do not allow yourself to be influenced or controlled by anyone or anything. Do not allow yourself to be influenced or controlled by calculations of profit or loss. Do not allow yourself to be influenced by praise or disgrace.

Let your wheels move only along odd ruts. There is a sacred mystery in doing the same as people have always done. You will be honoured by heaven.

Best of Taoism – The place of inaction

You do not need to leave your house in order to know what happens in the world. You do not need to look out of the window to see the path to heaven. The further you travel, the less you understand.

Wise people do not move about, yet they know; they do not look, but they see; they do not act, but they do what needs to be done.

If you study books and memorize facts, you learn more day by day. If you follow the way, you do less day by day. Eventually by following the way you arrive at the place of inaction; in that place nothing is done, and nothing is undone.

To manage an organization well, do not fuss over it. Anyone who fusses is unfit to manage anything.

Best of Taoism – Knowing Enough

That which is perfectly whole, seems flawed; yet you can use it forever. That which is perfectly full, seems empty; yet you can never drain it. That which is perfectly straight, appears crooked. That which is done with perfect skill and dexterity, seems clumsy. That which is expressed with perfect eloquence, seems confused.

To be comfortable in the cold, keep moving. To be comfortable in the heat, keep still. To be comfortable in the world, keep calm and clear.

When the world is following the way, people use horses to plough and manure the fields. When the world has abandoned the way, people use horses on the field of battle.

The greatest evil is to want more. The worst misfortune is discontent. The most terrible curse is greed.

If you know when enough is enough, you know enough.

Best of Taoism – Knowing yourself

If you know how other people behave, you are intelligent. If you know yourself, you are wise.

If you are able to overcome other people, you are strong. If you can overcome yourself, you are stronger.

If you are content with your circumstances, you are fortunate. If you are content with yourself, you are rich.

If you persevere in the face of adversity, you have determination. If you remain unmoved in the face of temptation or pressure, you have courage.

If you are happy to live until you die, then you will live as long as you want.