Philosophical Sayings
422 sayings found from the Ancient era
Lightly given promises must meet with little trust.
All things in the world come from being. And being comes from non-being.
The softest thing in the world can overcome the hardest thing in the world.
The greatest skill is to seem unskilled; The greatest abundance is to seem empty.
The more prohibitions there are, the poorer the people will be. The more sharp weapons the people have, the more trouble there will be in the country. The more clever and skillful man is, the more strange things will appear. The more laws are promulg…
Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. (Do not overdo it.)
The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.
The best of men is like water. Water benefits all things and does not compete with them. It dwells in lowly places that all disdain. This is why it is so near to the Tao.
If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.
When the best student hears about the Way, he practices it diligently. When the average student hears about the Way, he is half-hearted. When the worst student hears about the Way, he laughs out loud. If he didn't laugh, it wouldn't be the Way.
Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of the world, but let your serenity remain. Return to the root. This is tranquility. This is returning to your destiny.
Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good as good only because there is evil.
The sage attends to the inner and not to the outer.
Truthful words are not always beautiful; beautiful words are not always truthful.
Because of the great love, one is courageous.
The more you prohibit, the more evil there will be.
When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad.
He who knows glory, yet keeps to ignominy, is the valley of the world.
Doing good to others is not a duty. It is a joy, for it increases your own health and happiness.
Happiness comes to them who bring happiness to others.