H ealth is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. quote 7208 | Lao Tzu
T rue words aren’t eloquent; eloquent words aren’t true. Wise men don’t need to prove their point; men who need to prove their point aren’t wise. quote 7211 | Lao Tzu
T he Master has no possessions. The more he does for others, the happier he is. The more he gives to others, the wealthier he is. quote 7212 | Lao Tzu
F ill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. quote 7213 | Lao Tzu
M y teachings are easy to understand and easy to put into practice. Yet your intellect will never grasp them, and if you try to practice them, you’ll fail. quote 7216 | Lao Tzu
M y teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning? If you want to know me, look inside your heart. quote 7217 | Lao Tzu
B ecome totally empty. Quiet the restlessness of the mind. Only then will you witness everything unfolding from emptiness. quote 7219 | Lao Tzu
W ater is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong. quote 7222 | Lao Tzu
I f you show yourself, you will not be seen. If you affirm yourself, you will not shine. If you boast, you will have no merit. If you promote yourself, you will have no success. quote 7224 | Lao Tzu
R espond to anger with virtue. Deal with difficulties while they are still easy. Handle the great while it is still small. quote 7225 | Lao Tzu
T rying to understand is like straining through muddy water. Have the patience to wait! Be still and allow the mud to settle. quote 7227 | Lao Tzu
H e who stands on tiptoe doesn’t stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn’t go far. He who tries to shine dims his own light. He who defines himself can’t know who he really is. He who has power over others can’t empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures. If you want to accord with the Tao, just do your job, then let go. quote 7228 | Lao Tzu
N ot-knowing is true knowledge. Presuming to know is a disease. First realize that you are sick; then you can move toward health. quote 7229 | Lao Tzu
T o realize that you do not understand is a virtue; not to realize that you do not understand is a defect. quote 7230 | Lao Tzu
A good traveller 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. Thus the Master is available to all people and doesn’t reject anyone. He is ready to use all situations and doesn’t waste anything. This is called embodying the light. quote 7231 | Lao Tzu