Nothing in the world is softer than water, yet nothing surpasses it in overcoming the hard and strong.
天下莫柔弱於水、而攻堅強者莫之能勝。
Philosophers
Laozi
Semi-legendary Chinese philosopher of the 6th century BC who taught wu wei -- effortless action aligned with nature. His Tao Te Ching founded Taoism and shaped twenty-five centuries of East Asian thought.
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Laozi's Other Quotes
The highest goodness is like water. Water benefits all things and does not compete; it dwells in places others disdain, and so is close to the Tao.
In the pursuit of learning, one gains daily. In the pursuit of the Tao, one loses daily -- losing and losing until one arrives at wu wei. Through non-action, nothing is left undone.
The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
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