Laozi
Chinese thinker traditionally named as the author of the Daodejing, also called the Laozi; said in Chinese sources to have flourished in the sixth century BCE, though some modern scholars hold that he is entirely legendary; that authorship is traditional and legendary.
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What they believe
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The Tao that can be walked is not the enduring, unchanging Tao, and the name that can be named is not the enduring name
The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.
gutenberg.orgSaid c. 450–250 BCEThis on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These one: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 8 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
Each is a — compiled by korrents.com, not by them: the one-line wordings are korrents', the quotes are theirs.
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The Tao that can be walked is not the enduring, unchanging Tao, and the name that can be named is not the enduring name
The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.
Tao Teh King, traditionally ascribed to Laozi (tr. James Legge, 1891) Said c. 450–250 BCE
The highest excellence is like water, which benefits all things and takes the low place without striving
The highest excellence is like (that of) water. The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike.
Tao Teh King, traditionally ascribed to Laozi (tr. James Legge, 1891) Said c. 450–250 BCE
Knowing others is discernment and knowing oneself is intelligence; overcoming oneself is mightier than overcoming others
He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent. He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty.
Tao Teh King, traditionally ascribed to Laozi (tr. James Legge, 1891) Said c. 450–250 BCE
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Those who know the Tao do not care to speak about it; those ever ready to speak about it do not know it
He who knows (the Tao) does not (care to) speak (about it); he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it.
Tao Teh King, traditionally ascribed to Laozi (tr. James Legge, 1891) Said c. 450–250 BCE
The more prohibitions and display of legislation in a state, the poorer the people and the more thieves and robbers
In the kingdom the multiplication of prohibitive enactments increases the poverty of the people; the more implements to add to their profit that the people have, the greater disorder is there in the state and clan; the more acts of crafty dexterity that men possess, the more do strange contrivances appear; the more display there is of legislation, the more thieves and robbers there are.
Tao Teh King, traditionally ascribed to Laozi (tr. James Legge, 1891) Said c. 450–250 BCE
Great things begin small: a large tree grows from a tiny sprout and a long journey starts with one step
The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout; the tower of nine storeys rose from a (small) heap of earth; the journey of a thousand li commenced with a single step.
Tao Teh King, traditionally ascribed to Laozi (tr. James Legge, 1891) Said c. 450–250 BCE
No calamity is greater than lightly going to war
There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war.
Tao Teh King, traditionally ascribed to Laozi (tr. James Legge, 1891) Said c. 450–250 BCE
Sincere words are not fine, and fine words are not sincere
Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere.
Tao Teh King, traditionally ascribed to Laozi (tr. James Legge, 1891) Said c. 450–250 BCE
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