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The Sayings Of Lao Tzu
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.
We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.
We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
266 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1904
About the author
Lao Tzu
626 books4,091 followersLao Tzu (Chinese: 老子; pinyin: Lǎozǐ; Wade-Giles: Laosi; also Laozi, Lao Tse, Lao Tu, Lao-Tsu, Laotze, Laosi, Lao Zi, Laocius, Lao Ce, and other variations) was a mystic philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching (often simply referred to as Laozi). His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of Taoism (pronounced as "Daoism"). He is also revered as a deity in most religious forms of the Taoist religion, which often refers to Laozi as Taishang Laojun, or "One of the Three Pure Ones". Laozi translated literally from Chinese means "old master" or "old one", and is generally considered honorific.
According to Chinese tradition, Laozi lived in the 6th century BCE. Historians variously contend that Laozi is a synthesis of multiple historical figures, that he is a mythical figure, or that he actually lived in the 5th-4th century BCE, concurrent with the Hundred Schools of Thought and Warring States Period. As a result of being a a central figure in Chinese culture, both nobility and common people claim Lao Tzu in their lineage.
According to Chinese tradition, Laozi lived in the 6th century BCE. Historians variously contend that Laozi is a synthesis of multiple historical figures, that he is a mythical figure, or that he actually lived in the 5th-4th century BCE, concurrent with the Hundred Schools of Thought and Warring States Period. As a result of being a a central figure in Chinese culture, both nobility and common people claim Lao Tzu in their lineage.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 21 reviews
February 16, 2013
Short book of the sayings ot Lao Tzu the founder of Taoism. I had a student who was Tao once and because of my knowledge barrier and our language barrier, I had trouble understating until I realized through him that Buddhism and Taoism were separate religions. I thought Taoism was the Chinese version of Buddhism and he was the one who helped me understand that. Reading this book helps me understand Taoist beliefs more clearly. Good reading.
June 4, 2018
از اونجایی که دائوئیسم یکی از آبشخورهای ذن بود، سراغش رفتم تا ببینم چی ازش دستگیرم میشه. تاثیر نظراتش کاملا مشخصه، ولی در ذن تا حد زیادی ضدیت با عقل (تا جایی که من فهمیدم) تعدیل شده.
قسمت‌های جالب زیادی داشت. پاسخ دائو چیست، تا حد زیادی شبیه است به پاسخ ذن چیست. ولی هر چی به انتها نزدیک‌تر میشدم، ارتباطم با مطالب کم‌تر و کم‌تر میشد. خصوصا قسمت‌هایی که در مذمت عقل بود و اون رو مایهٔ خیلی از مشکلات میدونست، فرمان‌روایی خوب رو در این میدونست که مردم رو بگذاریم به حال خودشون تا به‌خوبی‌وخوشی زندگی کنند. (قطعا فرمول جهان‌شمولی نیست، نه؟)
قسمت‌های جالب زیادی داشت. پاسخ دائو چیست، تا حد زیادی شبیه است به پاسخ ذن چیست. ولی هر چی به انتها نزدیک‌تر میشدم، ارتباطم با مطالب کم‌تر و کم‌تر میشد. خصوصا قسمت‌هایی که در مذمت عقل بود و اون رو مایهٔ خیلی از مشکلات میدونست، فرمان‌روایی خوب رو در این میدونست که مردم رو بگذاریم به حال خودشون تا به‌خوبی‌وخوشی زندگی کنند. (قطعا فرمول جهان‌شمولی نیست، نه؟)
December 21, 2020
Lovely, rich and sublime. What a treasure...
Quotes (to be continued)
————
“That which is brittle is easily broken, that which is minute is easily dissipated. Take precautions before the evil appears, regulate things before disorder has begun.”
“The sage knows what is in him, but makes no display. He respects himself, but seeks not honor for himself.”
“Use the light that is in you to revert to your natural clearness of sight.”
“In the management of affairs, people constantly break down just when they are nearing a successful issue. If they took as much care at the end as at the beginning, they would not fall in their enterprises.”
“True words are not fine ; fine words are not true.”
“This is the Way of Heaven, which benefits and injures not. This is the Way of the Sage, in whose actions there is no element of strife.”
Quotes (to be continued)
————
“That which is brittle is easily broken, that which is minute is easily dissipated. Take precautions before the evil appears, regulate things before disorder has begun.”
“The sage knows what is in him, but makes no display. He respects himself, but seeks not honor for himself.”
“Use the light that is in you to revert to your natural clearness of sight.”
“In the management of affairs, people constantly break down just when they are nearing a successful issue. If they took as much care at the end as at the beginning, they would not fall in their enterprises.”
“True words are not fine ; fine words are not true.”
“This is the Way of Heaven, which benefits and injures not. This is the Way of the Sage, in whose actions there is no element of strife.”
October 2, 2016
道德經
"I revere the Foster-Mother Tao"
(hard to translate)
(hard to translate)
"I revere the Foster-Mother Tao"
(hard to translate)
(hard to translate)
May 27, 2009
I enjoy reading different translations of this philosophy, seeing how the translator's values give flavor to the text. Interesting that one of my favorites, Blakey's, is attributed to Lin Yu Tang, my favorite. I also recommend Aldous Huxley's translation, which I didn't find on this listing.
June 1, 2023
Many of us have encountered the term Tao, and acknowledge that within its vagueness lies abundance, yet, we cannot grasp it, nor can we internalise it as it is a way of life that aims to encompass life in and within itself. So in a way, it simply aims to represent life’s paradox, it tells us that the rationale behind the absurd lies in the UNIFORM duality of existence. The sage in this little book is the enlightened one, the one who has mastered all the traits that shadow nature itself, thus being one with the patterns of the universe. I am lucky to have encountered one such being, as this sage of mine encompasses the modern interpretation of wisdom, at least in the way I aim to inhabit it. This sage’s intellect, conduct and way of being exhibit many of the observations wrapped up in this beautiful collection of sayings and it has now become very clear to me what Tao looks like in human form.
My 1917 Version
The book I possess is a second-hand purchase I made in a very special London bookshop crawl that was fuelled by magic so everything I have encountered in that walk, holds a very special place in my heart. The editorial note alone captured the beauty of the book’s purpose: “The object of the Editors of this series is a very definite one. They desire above all things that, in their humble way, these books shall be the ambassadors of good-will and understanding between East and West - the old world of Thought and the new of Action”.
Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu: man, myth, reality? Deemed in modern times as the father of Tao, he is for the most part obscure and is said to have had little credit in ancient Chinese philosophy to the extent that many have denied that these sayings hold any validity.
But maybe we love to romanticise philosophers because the thought of these sayings coming from an average man, like us, is too much to handle. It raises the question of whether we are spending enough time or even CAPABLE of thinking, contemplating or developing insights about life, humanity, values and everything in between or if we have just become a set of reactions, merely byproducts of life itself, and deemed forever to be slaves, just insignificant cogs amongst the masses. I believe Lao Tzu was real and I believe his obscurity was a choice, embodying his true beliefs about those who are sage.
’TAO IN ITS TRANSCENDENTAL ASPECT, AND ITS PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION
In its transcendence (when it's nameless), it is the beginning of heaven and earth and in its physical manifestation (named) it is the” mother of all things”. Tao is the eternal truth.
“Only one who is eternally free from earthly passions can apprehend its spiritual essence; he who is ever clogged by passions can see no more than its outer form. These two things, the spiritual and the material, though we call them by different names, in their origin are one and the same. This sameness is a mystery,-the mystery of mysteries. It is the gate of all spirituality”
“Man takes his law from the Earth, the Earth takes its laws from Heaven, Heaven takes its law from Tao, but the law of Tao is its own spontaneity”
Embodying Tao
“When a superior scholar hears of Tao, he diligently practices it. When the average scholar hears of Tao, he sometimes retains it, sometimes loses it. When the inferior scholar hears the Tao, he loudly laughs at it. Were it not thus ridiculed, it would not be worthy of the name of Tao. He who is enlightened by Tao seems wrapped in darkness. He who is advanced in Tao seems to be going back. He who walks smoothly in Tao seems to be on a rugged path” … Tao is THE sanctuary for all good men of true virtue.
’The Doctrine of Inaction’
This was humbling to say the least. It was my second favourite part though short, it speaks of stillness in the most delightful way. Although the entire book reads like a song, this felt different as it was exactly what I needed to hear:
“Practice inaction, occupy yourself with doing nothing. Desire not to desire, and you will not find things difficult to attain. Learn not to learn, and you will revert to a condition that mankind in general has lost. Leave all things to take their natural course and do not interfere.” “Tao is eternally inactive, yet it leaves nothing undone.”
This was difficult to digest as it almost insinuates that one must do nothing, but it is a very specific type of inaction that it conveys, it is a higher state of diligence where mental mastery precedes the external act of doing and for the most part, directing action without utilising the actual senses. Enlightenment might look like laziness in our current society but it is because society today, has left no space for the enlightened.
’PARADOXES’
My absolute favourite part of the book as it recalled one part of a recent discussion I had with my sage one revealing to me that I believe that the fundamental essence and true nature of things is POLARITY; LITERAL OXYMORONS. This may not be profound insight to many, least of all Schrodinger’s undead dead cat, but it was for me personally. “The truest sayings are paradoxical” says Lao Tzu ..
“There is the same mutual relation between existence and non-existence in the matter of creation; between difficulty and ease in the matter of accomplishing; between long and short in the matter of form; between high and low in the matter of elevation; between treble and bass in the matter of musical pitch; between before and after in the matter of priority.”
”He who knows others is clever, but he who knows himself is enlightened. He who overcomes others is strong, but he who overcomes himself is mightier still. He is rich who knows when he has enough”
Other Sayings on the sage
“The excellence of a dwelling is its site; the excellence of a mind is its profundity; the excellence of giving is charitableness; the excellence of speech is truthfulness; the excellence of government is order; the excellence of action is ability; the excellence of movement is timeliness.”
“The Sage attends to the inner and not to the outer; he puts away the objective and holds to the subjective.”
“Among men, reject none; among things, reject nothing. This is called comprehensive intelligence.”
“The course of things is such that what was in front is now behind; what was hot is now cold; what was strong is now weak; what was complete is now in ruin. Therefore the Sage avoids excess, extravagance, and grandeur.”
“To see small beginnings is clearness of sight. To rest in weakness is strength.
He who knows how to plant, shall not have his plant uprooted; he who knows how to hold a thing, shall not have it taken away. Sons and grandsons will worship at his shrine, which shall endure from generation to generation.”
“Knowledge in harmony is called constant. Constant knowledge is called wisdom. * Increase of life is called felicity. The mind directing the body is called strength.
Be square without being angular. Be honest without being mean. Be upright without being punctilious. Be brilliant without being showy.”
“Good words shall gain you honour in the marketplace, but good deeds shall gain you friends among men.”
“The difficult things of this world must once have been easy; the great things of this world must once have been small. Set about difficult things while they are still easy; do great things while they are still small. The Sage never affects to do anything great, and therefore he is able to achieve his great results.”
“Take precautions before the evil appears; regulate things before disorder has begun.”
My 1917 Version
The book I possess is a second-hand purchase I made in a very special London bookshop crawl that was fuelled by magic so everything I have encountered in that walk, holds a very special place in my heart. The editorial note alone captured the beauty of the book’s purpose: “The object of the Editors of this series is a very definite one. They desire above all things that, in their humble way, these books shall be the ambassadors of good-will and understanding between East and West - the old world of Thought and the new of Action”.
Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu: man, myth, reality? Deemed in modern times as the father of Tao, he is for the most part obscure and is said to have had little credit in ancient Chinese philosophy to the extent that many have denied that these sayings hold any validity.
But maybe we love to romanticise philosophers because the thought of these sayings coming from an average man, like us, is too much to handle. It raises the question of whether we are spending enough time or even CAPABLE of thinking, contemplating or developing insights about life, humanity, values and everything in between or if we have just become a set of reactions, merely byproducts of life itself, and deemed forever to be slaves, just insignificant cogs amongst the masses. I believe Lao Tzu was real and I believe his obscurity was a choice, embodying his true beliefs about those who are sage.
’TAO IN ITS TRANSCENDENTAL ASPECT, AND ITS PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION
In its transcendence (when it's nameless), it is the beginning of heaven and earth and in its physical manifestation (named) it is the” mother of all things”. Tao is the eternal truth.
“Only one who is eternally free from earthly passions can apprehend its spiritual essence; he who is ever clogged by passions can see no more than its outer form. These two things, the spiritual and the material, though we call them by different names, in their origin are one and the same. This sameness is a mystery,-the mystery of mysteries. It is the gate of all spirituality”
“Man takes his law from the Earth, the Earth takes its laws from Heaven, Heaven takes its law from Tao, but the law of Tao is its own spontaneity”
Embodying Tao
“When a superior scholar hears of Tao, he diligently practices it. When the average scholar hears of Tao, he sometimes retains it, sometimes loses it. When the inferior scholar hears the Tao, he loudly laughs at it. Were it not thus ridiculed, it would not be worthy of the name of Tao. He who is enlightened by Tao seems wrapped in darkness. He who is advanced in Tao seems to be going back. He who walks smoothly in Tao seems to be on a rugged path” … Tao is THE sanctuary for all good men of true virtue.
’The Doctrine of Inaction’
This was humbling to say the least. It was my second favourite part though short, it speaks of stillness in the most delightful way. Although the entire book reads like a song, this felt different as it was exactly what I needed to hear:
“Practice inaction, occupy yourself with doing nothing. Desire not to desire, and you will not find things difficult to attain. Learn not to learn, and you will revert to a condition that mankind in general has lost. Leave all things to take their natural course and do not interfere.” “Tao is eternally inactive, yet it leaves nothing undone.”
This was difficult to digest as it almost insinuates that one must do nothing, but it is a very specific type of inaction that it conveys, it is a higher state of diligence where mental mastery precedes the external act of doing and for the most part, directing action without utilising the actual senses. Enlightenment might look like laziness in our current society but it is because society today, has left no space for the enlightened.
’PARADOXES’
My absolute favourite part of the book as it recalled one part of a recent discussion I had with my sage one revealing to me that I believe that the fundamental essence and true nature of things is POLARITY; LITERAL OXYMORONS. This may not be profound insight to many, least of all Schrodinger’s undead dead cat, but it was for me personally. “The truest sayings are paradoxical” says Lao Tzu ..
“There is the same mutual relation between existence and non-existence in the matter of creation; between difficulty and ease in the matter of accomplishing; between long and short in the matter of form; between high and low in the matter of elevation; between treble and bass in the matter of musical pitch; between before and after in the matter of priority.”
”He who knows others is clever, but he who knows himself is enlightened. He who overcomes others is strong, but he who overcomes himself is mightier still. He is rich who knows when he has enough”
Other Sayings on the sage
“The excellence of a dwelling is its site; the excellence of a mind is its profundity; the excellence of giving is charitableness; the excellence of speech is truthfulness; the excellence of government is order; the excellence of action is ability; the excellence of movement is timeliness.”
“The Sage attends to the inner and not to the outer; he puts away the objective and holds to the subjective.”
“Among men, reject none; among things, reject nothing. This is called comprehensive intelligence.”
“The course of things is such that what was in front is now behind; what was hot is now cold; what was strong is now weak; what was complete is now in ruin. Therefore the Sage avoids excess, extravagance, and grandeur.”
“To see small beginnings is clearness of sight. To rest in weakness is strength.
He who knows how to plant, shall not have his plant uprooted; he who knows how to hold a thing, shall not have it taken away. Sons and grandsons will worship at his shrine, which shall endure from generation to generation.”
“Knowledge in harmony is called constant. Constant knowledge is called wisdom. * Increase of life is called felicity. The mind directing the body is called strength.
Be square without being angular. Be honest without being mean. Be upright without being punctilious. Be brilliant without being showy.”
“Good words shall gain you honour in the marketplace, but good deeds shall gain you friends among men.”
“The difficult things of this world must once have been easy; the great things of this world must once have been small. Set about difficult things while they are still easy; do great things while they are still small. The Sage never affects to do anything great, and therefore he is able to achieve his great results.”
“Take precautions before the evil appears; regulate things before disorder has begun.”
April 17, 2023
Selena Gomez said “kill em with kindness” so Lao Tzu could say “requite injury with kindness”
May 15, 2015
"Se você procura a sua realização nos outros, você nunca será realizado. Se a sua felicidade depende de dinheiro, você nunca será feliz consigo mesmo. Se está contente com o que você tem; fique feliz com a maneira como as coisas são. Quando você perceber que não está faltando nada, o mundo pertence-lhe".
(Lao Tzu)
July 26, 2023
(4)
"A thousand miles journey begins with a small single step"
"My words are easy to understand and use in practice but no man can understand them and use them in practice"
It was one of my first philosophy books def first ancient Chinese philosophy books but woah I'm just impressed def will read more of them.
"A thousand miles journey begins with a small single step"
"My words are easy to understand and use in practice but no man can understand them and use them in practice"
It was one of my first philosophy books def first ancient Chinese philosophy books but woah I'm just impressed def will read more of them.
December 28, 2020
یک قصه بیش نیست غم دائو وین عجب
کز هر زبان که می‌شنوم نامکرر است
کز هر زبان که می‌شنوم نامکرر است
May 22, 2021
تصویرسازی‌های این کتاب به درک سخنان لائوزه اندکی کمک می‌کند، هر چند فهم این مطالب مسیر دیگری می‌طلبد. کتاب گام اول خوبی است.
November 3, 2022
The much familiar 道德经 (Tao Te Ching) with a preface explaining its history through time, an analysis of 老子 and a more wordy written English translation. New elements learnt:
- Gven to all people taking second level exams in the Qing Dynasty (people with government leadership positions)
- Kublai Khan decreed the burning of all Daosit books within China except the 道德经, representing it's universal value, religious connotations and cultural differences aside.
- 老子 didn't feel like he shared his teachings effectively with his peers and the Daoist movement was estranged from the text through intermingling of other cultural customs throughout time.
- Gven to all people taking second level exams in the Qing Dynasty (people with government leadership positions)
- Kublai Khan decreed the burning of all Daosit books within China except the 道德经, representing it's universal value, religious connotations and cultural differences aside.
- 老子 didn't feel like he shared his teachings effectively with his peers and the Daoist movement was estranged from the text through intermingling of other cultural customs throughout time.
January 20, 2020
inti ajaran dan nasihat masih sangat masuk akal hingga masa sekarang
July 2, 2020
Translations are a bit different than what I've read before & it's too short, but worked for me.
December 17, 2020
Timeless aphorisms.
December 25, 2021
Though he shows a lot of wisdom, I don't agree with some of his precepts.
March 30, 2022
Talks on virtues of compassion moderation humility selflessness that brings balance through simplicity and recognising the natural force of Tao
August 1, 2022
3.25 stars
July 19, 2023
I know I would enjoy this more if I was smarter xx
February 1, 2024
Lesson: These require some reflection.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 21 reviews