All things in the world come from being. And being comes from non-being.
Lao TzuRead
Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere.
Interpretation
Genuine communication is more important than eloquence.
This quote emphasizes the value of sincerity over the sophistication of language. It suggests that true understanding and connection stem from honest expression rather than the mere appearance of eloquence or beauty in words.
In practice
During a speech about building trust in relationships.
All things in the world come from being. And being comes from non-being.
The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; the Named is the mother of all things.
In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect.
If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.
The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.
Attention is a bit like real estate, in that they're not making any more of it. Unlike real estate, though, it keeps going up in value.
What I know for sure is that pleasure is energy reciprocated. What you put out comes back. Your base level of pleasure is determined by how you view your whole life.
When we are well, we all have good advice for those who are ill.
Don't let your sins turn into bad habits.
Lord, enlighten thou our enemies. Sharpen their wits, give acuteness to their perceptions, and consecutiveness and clearness to their reasoning powers: we are in danger from their folly, not from their wisdom; their weakness is what fills us with apprehension, not their strength.
Itβs funny. I met a man once who did a lot of mountain climbing. I asked him which was harder, ascending or descending? He said without a doubt descending, because ascending you were so focused on reaching the top, you avoided mistakes. The backside of a mountain is a fight against human nature,β he said. βYou have to care as much about yourself on the way down as you did on the way up.
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