Philosophical Sayings

But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.

He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Do that which consists in taking no action; Pursue that which is not meddlesome; Savor that which has no flavor.

Make the small big and the few many; Do good to him who has done you an injury.

Difficult things in the world must needs have their beginnings in the easy; Big things must needs have their beginnings in the small.

Therefore it is because the sage never attempts to be great that he succeeds in becoming great.

One who makes promises rashly rarely keeps good faith; One who is in the habit of considering things easy meets with frequent difficulties.

Therefore even the sage treats some things as difficult. That is why in the end no difficulties can get the better of him.

Use justice to rule a country. Use surprise to wage war. Use non-action to govern the world.

Act without action. Those who act will fail. Those who seize will lose.

He (the sage) wants all things to follow their own nature, but dares not act.

The sage does not act and therefore does not fail, does not seize and therefore does not lose.

The Way is ever without action, yet nothing is left undone.

The highest virtue does nothing. Yet, nothing needs to be done. The lowest virtue does everything. Yet, much remains to be done.

The value of teaching without words and accomplishing without action is understood by few in the world.

The sage knows without traveling, perceives without looking, completes without acting.

When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.