12 The five colors blind the eyes; the five musical tones deafen the ears; the five flavors dull the taste. Racing and hunting madden the mind. Precious goods...
13 Good fortune and misfortune cause apprehension. Regard great trouble as you regard your self. What is meant by "Good fortune and misfortune cause...
14 We look at it, and do not see it; it is invisible. We listen to it, and do not hear it; it is inaudible. We touch it, and do not feel it; it is intangible. ...
15 The wise have ancient mystic wisdom and profound understanding, too deep to comprehend. Because they can not be comprehended, they can only be described by...
16 Empty yourself of everything. Maintain a steady serenity. All things take shape and become active, but I see them return to their source, like vegetation...
17 The best leaders the people barely know. The next best they love and praise. The next they fear. And the next they hate. Those who lack trust will not be...
English interpolation by Sanderson Beck, 1996 http://www.san.beck.org/Laotzu.html 18 When the great Way is forgotten, the doctrines of humanity and morality...
19 Abandon religion and discard cleverness, and people will benefit a hundredfold. Abandon humanity and discard morality, and people will rediscover love and...
20 Abandon memorizing, and vexations end. How much difference is there between yes and no? How much difference is there between good and evil? Is what people...
Derek runs the web site known as True Tao and its accompanying message board The Teahouse. His book was reently published and has been for sale since August...
22 To yield is to preserve unity. To bend is to become straight. To empty oneself is to become full. To wear oneself out is to be renewed. To have little is to...
23 Nature says few words. A whirlwind does not last all morning, nor does a rainstorm last a whole day. What causes them? Nature. If even Nature's utterances...
24 Those who stand on tiptoe are not steady. Those who strain their strides cannot long keep up the pace. Those who display themselves do not illuminate. Those...
25 There is something mysterious and whole which existed before heaven and earth, silent, formless, complete, and never changing. Living eternally everywhere...
26 Gravity is the foundation of levity. Serenity masters hastiness. Therefore the wise travel all day without leaving their baggage. In the midst of honor and...
27 A good traveler leaves no trace. A good speaker makes no slips. A good accountant uses no devices. A good door needs no bolts to remain shut. A good...
28 Know the male and keep to the female. Become the valley of the world. Being the valley of the world is eternal power and returning to the innocence of a...
29 Those who take over the world and act upon it, I notice, do not succeed. The world is a sacred vessel, not to be tampered with. Those who tamper with it,...
30 Whoever advises a leader according to the Way opposes conquest by force of arms. The use of force tends to rebound. Where armies march, thorns and brambles...
31 Weapons are tools of destruction hated by people. Therefore followers of the Way never use them. In peace leaders favor the creative left. In war they favor...
32 The Way is absolute and undefined. Like natural uncarved wood in simplicity, yet none in the world can overcome it. If leaders would hold to it, the whole...
33 Those who know others are wise. Those who know themselves are enlightened. Those who overcome others require force. Those who overcome themselves need...
34 The great Way flows everywhere, both left and right. All things derive their life from it, and it does not turn away from them. It accomplishes its work,...
35 Hold to the great form, and all the world follows, following without meeting harm, in health, peace, and happiness. Music and delicacies to eat induce...
I have some background info on bounces your group members may have experienced in the last couple days. Because of a temporary glitch in the Yahoo! Mail...
36 In order to contract, it is necessary first to expand. In order to weaken, it is necessary first to strengthen. In order to reduce, it is necessary first to...
37 The Way never interferes, yet through it everything is done. If leaders would follow the Way, the world would be reformed of its own accord. When reformed...
38 Superior power does not emphasize its power, and thus is powerful. Inferior power never forgets its power, and thus is powerless. Superior power never...
