Laozi (老子, 604 BC-? )
Laozi (Chinese: 老子; pinyin: Lǎozǐ; Wade–Giles: Lao Tzu; also romanized as Lao Tse, Lao Tu, Lao-Tsu, Laotze, Laosi, Laocius, and other variations) was a philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching (often simply referred to as Laozi). His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of philosophical Taoism (pronounced as "Daoism"). He is also revered as a deity in most religious forms of Taoist philosophy, which often refers to Laozi as Taishang Laojun, or "One of the Three Pure Ones".[1]
Laozi is an honorific title. Lao (老) means "venerable" or "old", such as modern Mandarin laoshi (老师), "teacher". Zi (子), Wade-Giles transliteration tzu, in this context is typically translated "master". Zi was used in ancient China as an honorific suffix, indicating "Master", or "Sir". In popular biographies, Laozi's given name was Er, his surname was Li (forming Li Er, 李耳) and his courtesy name was Boyang. Dan is a posthumous name given to Laozi, and he is sometimes referred to as Li Dan (李聃).
According to Chinese traditions, Laozi lived in the 6th century BCE. Historians variously contend that Laozi is a synthesis of multiple historical figures, that he is a mythical figure, or that he actually lived in the 5th–4th century BCE, concurrent with the Hundred Schools of Thought and Warring States Period.
A central figure in Chinese culture, both nobility and common people claim Laozi in their lineage. He was honored as an ancestor of the Tang imperial family, and was granted the title Taishang xuanyuan huangdi, meaning "Supreme Mysterious and Primordial Emperor". Xuanyuan and Huangdi are also, respectively, the personal and proper names of the Yellow Emperor. Throughout history, Laozi's work has been embraced by various anti-authoritarian movements.
¶ 聖人處無為之事，行不言之教。
The sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech. [道德經 002]
¶ 希言自然，故飄風不終朝，驟雨不終日。 [道德經 023]
Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature. A violent wind does not last for a whole morning; a sudden rain does not last for the whole day.
¶ 善行無轍迹，善言無瑕讁；善數不用籌策；善閉無關楗而不可開，善結無繩約而不可解。 [道德經 027]
The skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps; the skilful speaker says nothing that can be found fault with or blamed; the skilful reckoner uses no tallies; the skilful closer needs no bolts or bars, while to open what he has shut will be impossible; the skilful binder uses no strings or knots, while to unloose what he has bound will be impossible.
¶ 大直若屈，大巧若拙，大辯若訥。 [道德經 045]
The moat straightness seems crooked. The greatest skill seems clumsy, and the outstanding eloquence seems inarticulate.
¶ 是以聖人欲上民，必以言下之；欲先民，必以身後之。 [道德經 066]
So it is that the sage, wishing to be above men, puts himself by his words below them, and, wishing to be before them, places himself behind them.
¶ 天下難事，必作於易，天下大事，必作於細。 [道德經 063]
All difficult things in the world are sure to arise from a previous state in which they were easy, and all great things from one in which they were small.
¶ 合抱之木，生於毫末；九層之臺，起於累土；千里之行，始於足下。 [道德經 064]
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 miles commenced with a single step.
¶ There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontentment. And there is no greater disaster than greed.
¶ 谷神不死，是謂玄牝。 [道德經 006]
The valley spirit dies not, aye the same; The female mystery thus do we name.
¶ Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of happiness.
¶ People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge.
¶ Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them—that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward however they like.
This quote from the ancient Chinese philosopher teaches us to embrace change and go with the flow of life, which is a key to inner peace.
¶ To have little is to possess. To have plenty is to be perplexed.
¶ 治大國若烹小鮮。
Govern a great powers as you would cook a small fish. - It is the best politics to keep hands off.
¶ He who loves the world as his body may be entrusted with the empire.
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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi
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