Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. Those who are skilled (in the Dao) do not dispute (about it); the disputatious are not skilled in it. Those who know (the Dao) are not extensively learned; the extensively learned do not know it.The sage does not accumulate (for himself). The more that…
Man at his birth is supple and weak; at his death, firm and strong. (So it is with) all things. Trees and plants, in their early growth, are soft and brittle; at their death, dry and withered.Thus it is that firmness and strength are the concomitants of death; softness and weakness, the concomitants of…
The preferences of Heaven are beyond human understanding. Even sages struggle to discern them, let alone ordinary people! The Dao operates through inscrutable natural laws, transcending human logic. Sages approach such mysteries with humility rather than forced interpretation.
When people persist in ignorance and fearlessness, great calamity approaches. Practice moderation in daily living; Preserve the life-sustaining environment. Thus we avoid bitter consequences and cosmic retribution.
To know that you do not know—that is true wisdom.Not to know yet think you know—that is affliction. Only by recognizing affliction as affliction can one avoid affliction.The sage is free from affliction because he recognizes affliction as such—thus he remains unafflicted.
My words are very easy to understand, very easy to practice.Yet no one under heaven can understand them or put them into practice. Words have their root; actions have their master.It is precisely because people lack understanding that they do not know me. Those who understand me are few;those who follow me are precious.…