The Tao Te Ching

The following are quotes from the Tao Te Ching (pronounced Dao De Jing). The Tao Te Ching was written by the ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi and is used as the foundational text for Taoism (Daoism). Written around 6BC this text has become a foundation of Chinese culture. Bellow are quotes that I belief pertain greatly to China in the present as well as quotes I simply found interesting/thought-provoking/humorous. Enjoy

Chapter Two

When people see some things as beautiful,

other things become ugly.

When people see some things as good,

other things become bad.

Chapter 11

We shape clay into a pot,

but it is the emptiness inside

that holds whatever we want.

We hammer wood for a house,

but it is the inner space

that makes it livable.

We work with being,

but non-being is what we use.

Chapter 17

When the Master governs, the people

are hardly aware that he exists.

Next best is a leader who is loved.

Next, one who is feared.

The worst is one who is despised.

If you don’t trust the people,

you make them untrustworthy

The Master doesn’t talk, he acts.

When his work is done,

the people say, “Amazing:

we did it, all by ourselves!”

 Chapter 38

When the Tao is lost, there is goodness.

When goodness is lost, there is morality

When morality is lost, there is ritual

Ritual is the husk of true faith,

the beginning of chaos.

Chapter 41

When a superior man hears the Tao,

he immediately begins to embody it.

When an average man hears of the Tao,

he half believes it, half doubts it.

When a foolish man hears of the Tao,

he laughs out loud.

If he didn’t laugh,

it wouldn’t be the Tao.

Chapter 42

The Tao gives birth to One.

One gives birth to Two.

Two gives birth to Three.

Three gives birth to all things.

…

Ordinary men hate solitude.

But the Master makes use of it,

embracing his aloneness, realizing

he is one with the whole universe.

Chapter 59

For governing a country well

there is nothing better than moderation

Chapter 60

Governing a large country

is like frying a small fish.

You spoil it with too much poking.

Chapter 61

When a country obtains great power,

it becomes like the sea:

all streams run downward to into it.

The more powerful it grow,

the greater the need for humility.

Humility means trusting the Tao,

thus never needing to be defensive.

Chapter 65

When they think that they know the answers,

people are difficult to guide.

When they know that they don’t know,

people can find their own way.

Chapter 80

If a country is governed wisely,

its inhabitants will be content.

They enjoy the labor of their hands

and they don’t waste time inventing

labor-saving machines.

Since they dearly love their homes,

they aren’t interesting in travel.

There may be a few wagons and boats,

but these don’t go anywhere.

There may be an arsenal of weapons,

but nobody ever uses them.

People enjoy their food,

take pleasure in being with their families,

spend their weekends working in their gardens,

delight in the doings of the neighbourhood.

And even though the next country is so close

that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking,

they are content to die of old age

without ever having gone to see it.