"Men are born soft and supple; dead, they……" — Laozi
"Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail."
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Laozi
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1,065 Quotes by Laozi
Laozi has 1,065 quotes on this site.
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Goodness strives not, and therefore it is not rebuked.
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He that humbles himself shall be preserved entire. He that bends shall be made straight. He that is empty shall…
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Therefore the Sage embraces Unity, and is a model for all under Heaven. He is free from self-display, therefore he…
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He who, conscious of being strong, is content to be weak, he shall be the paragon of mankind. Being the…
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He who is great must make humility his base. He who is high must make lowliness his foundation. Thus, princes…
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Thus it is that "Some things are increased by being diminished, others are diminished by being increased." What others have…
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What makes a kingdom great is its being like a down-flowing river,--the central point towards which all the smaller streams…
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Therefore, if a great kingdom humbles itself before a small kingdom, it shall make that small kingdom its prize. And…
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The reason why rivers and seas are able to be lords over a hundred mountain streams, is that they know…
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Therefore the Sage, wishing to be above the people, must by his words put himself below them; wishing to be…
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The Sage expects no recognition for what he does; he achieves merit but does not take it to himself; he…
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But in the present day men cast off gentleness, and are all for being bold; they spurn frugality, and retain…
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