"When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. When the sage is put to use, he becomes the head."
Taoism quotes
Taoism
545 quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
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Taoism quotes (page 13 of 28)
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"The sage wears coarse clothes, concealing jade."
"Who can rest until the moment of action?"
"Stillness is easy to maintain."
"The wise man is one who knows what he does not know."
"The soft and weak can overcome the hard and strong."
"The sage governs by emptying senses and filling bellies."
"Yielding is the manner of the Way."
"Without stepping out the door, you can know the world."
"Without looking through the window, you can see Heaven's Way."
"Filling all the way to the brim is not as good as halting in time."
"In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped."
"The softest in the world surpasses the hardest in the world."
"Holding on to the weak is called strength."
"Yielding, like ice about to melt."
"To bear the country's disgrace is to rule the shrines of soil and grain. To bear the country's misfortunes is to be the king of the world."
"Tao is beyond words and beyond things. It is not expressed either in word or in silence. Where there is no longer word or silence Tao is apprehended."
"By ethical argument and moral principle the greatest crimes are eventually shown to have been necessary, and, in fact, a signal benefit to mankind."
"Displaying riches and titles with pride brings about one's downfall."
"When family ties are disturbed, devoted children arise."