Shocking Sayings

Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

For many are invited, but few are chosen.

But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her deeds.

But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

The more prohibitions there are, the poorer the people will be. The more sharp weapons the people have, the more troubled the state will be. The more cunning and skill man possesses, the more peculiar things will appear. The more laws and orders are …

When the government is muddle-headed, the people are simple and honest. When the government is clear-cut, the people are discontented.

The best rulers are those the people barely know exist. The next best are those the people praise and acclaim. The next best are those the people fear. The worst are those the people despise.

When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe. When wealth and honors lead to arrogance, this brings disaster upon itself. When the work is done and the name is established, then one should retire. This is the Way of Heaven.

Without going out of the door, one can know the whole world. Without peeping through the window, one can see the Way of Heaven. The further one goes, the less one knows.

The greatest flaw is to desire more.

To yield is to be preserved whole. To be bent is to be straightened. To be empty is to be filled. To be worn out is to be renewed. To have little is to gain. To have plenty is to be perplexed.