When the palace is magnificent, the fields are filled with weeds, and the granaries are empty.
Interpretation
A critique of superficial luxury at the expense of essential needs and well-being.
This quote from Laozi highlights the imbalance in society where extravagant displays of wealth and power overshadow the neglected basic necessities of life, like agriculture and food security. It serves as a reminder that true prosperity and stability arise from nurturing the foundational aspects of society rather than pursuing mere opulence.
In practice
During a speech about sustainable development, you could use this quote to emphasize the importance of agriculture.
If you understand others you are smart._x000D_ If you understand yourself you are illuminated._x000D_ If you overcome others you are powerful._x000D_ If you overcome yourself you have strength._x000D_ If you know how to be satisfied you are rich._x000D_ If you can act with vigor, you have a will._x000D_ If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting._x000D_ If you die without loss, you are eternal.
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.
In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.
Rule your mind with serenity rather than with force and manipulation.
Authority and place demonstrate and try the tempers of men, by moving every passion and discovering every frailty.
Whatever may be open to disagreement, there is one act of evil that may not, the act that no man may commit against others and no man may sanction or forgive. So long as men desire to live together, no man may initiate—do you hear me? no man may start—the use of physical force against others.
Permanent remorse about failing to do your human duty, in my opinion, can be worse than losing your life.
Coming home from very lonely places, all of us go a little mad: whether from great personal success, or just an all-night drive, we are the sole survivors of a world no one else has ever seen.
And I could weep at how mean people are and how they betray their fellow creatures, perhaps for the sake of personal advantage. It is enough to make a person lose heart sometimes. I often wish I lived on a Robinson Crusoe island.
A society that gives to one class all the opportunities for leisure, and to another all the burdens of work, dooms both classes to spiritual sterility.
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