The Daode jing 道德經 (Book of the Way and its Virtue), a short work consisting of aphorisms attributed to Laozi (the Old Master), is the main Taoist text. Virtually all movements and lineages within Taoism consider this as the founding scripture of the entire tradition, even though they may also venerate their own founders and their own texts. These selections are concerned with the Taoist Saint and the state of "non-doing" (wuwei).
Their Depth Cannot Be Understood
Of old, those who were good gentlemen
were subtle and wondrous, mysterious and penetrating:
their depth cannot be understood.
It is only because it cannot be understood
that, if I am forced, I would describe them as —
hesitant, like one who fords a stream in winter;
tentative, like one who is concerned by the four neighborhoods;
respectful, like a guest;
loose, like ice on the point of melting
genuine, like an uncarved block;
spacious, like a valley;
murky, like muddied water.
Daode jing, 25
Mysterious Virtue
In generating and feeding things —
generating without owning,
doing without being dependent,
letting grow without managing:
this is called Mysterious Virtue.
Daode jing, 10
If You Do Something To It, You Damage It
Those who want to take over the world and do something to it —
I see that they will never succeed.
The world is a divine vessel:
you cannot do anything to it,
you cannot hold it.
Do something to it, and you damage it;
hold it, and you lose it.
Thus the Saint does not do,
and therefore nothing is damaged,
he holds nothing,
and therefore nothing is lost.
Daode jing, 29
He Does Not Make Himself Seen
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A concise but comprehensive introduction to Taoist thought and religion
He does not make himself seen,
therefore he is luminous;
he does not make himself right,
therefore he is illustrious;
he does not brag,
therefore he has merit;
he does not boast,
therefore he lasts long.
It is only because he does not contend
that no one in the world contends with him.
Daode jing, 22
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