Tao Te Ching 79
Difficulties remain, even after solving a problem.
How, then, can we consider that as good?
Therefore, the Master does what she knows is right and makes no demands of others.
A virtuous person will do the right thing and persons with no virtue will take advantage of others.
The Tao does not choose sides, the good person receives from the Tao because she is on it's side.
Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching 78
Water is the softest and most yielding substance.
Yet nothing is better than water, for overcoming the hard and rigid, because nothing can compete with it.
Everyone knows that the soft and yielding overcomes the rigid and hard, but few can put this knowledge into practice.
Therefore the Master says: "Only he who is the lowest servant of the kingdom is worthy of becoming its ruler. He who is willing to tackle the most unpleasant tasks, is he best ruler in the world."
True sayings seem contradictory.
Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching 77
The Tao of Heaven works in the world like the drawing of a bow.
The top is bent downward; the bottom is bent up.
The excess is taken from, and the deficient is given to.
The Tao works to use the excess, and gives to that which is depleted.
The way of people is to take from the depleted, and give to those who already have an excess.
Who is able to give to the needy from their excess?
Only someone who is following the way of the Tao.
This is why the Master gives expecting nothing in return.
She does not dwell on her past accomplishments, and does not glory in any praise.
Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching 76
The living are soft and yielding; the dead are rigid and stiff.
Living plants are flexible and tender; the dead are brittle and dry.
Those who are stiff and rigid are the disciples of death.
Those who are soft and yielding are the disciples of life.
The rigid and stiff will be broken.
The soft and yielding will overcome.
Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching 75
When people go hungry, the government's taxes are too high.
When people become rebellious, the government has become too intrusive.
When people begin to view death lightly, wealthy people have too much which causes others to starve.
Only those who do not cling to their life can save it.
Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching 74
If you do not fear death, then how can it intimidate you?
If you aren't afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot do.
Those who harm others are like inexperienced boys trying to take the place of a great lumberjack.
Trying to fill his shoes will only get them seriously hurt.
Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching 73
Being overbold and confident is deadly.
The wise use of caution will keep you alive.
One is the way to death, and the other is the way to preserve your life.
Who can understand the workings of Heaven?
The Tao of the universe does not compete, yet wins; does not speak, yet responds; does not command, yet is obeyed; and does not act, but is good at directing.
The nets of Heaven are wide, but nothing escapes its grasp.
Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching 72
When people become overly bold, Then disaster will soon arrive.
Do not meddle with people's livelihood; by respecting them they will in turn respect you.
Therefore, the Master knows herself but is not arrogant.
She loves herself but also loves others.
This is how she is able to make appropriate choices.
Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching 71
Knowing you don't know is wholeness.
Thinking you know is a disease.
Only by recognizing that you have an illness can you move to seek a cure.
The Master is whole because she sees her illnesses and treats them, and thus is able to remain whole.
Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching 70
My words are easy to understand and easier to put into practice.
Yet no one in the world seems to understand them, nor are they able to apply what I teach.
My teachings come from the ancients, the things I do are done for a reason.
Because you do not know me, you are not able to understand my teachings.
Because those who know me are few, my teachings become even more precious.
Lao Tzu
