Inspirational Quotes by Zhiming Yuan

“The people make light of dying because of the greatness of their labours in seeking for the means of living.”

“not to prize articles which are difficult to procure is the way to keep them from becoming thieves;”

“From this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character; and he who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like.”

“A man should love others as himself and also their parents as his own.”

“Is it not because he has no personal and private ends, that therefore such ends are realised?”

“If you give evil nothing to oppose, then virtue will return by itself.”

“Gravity is the root of lightness;”

“Misery and fortune share a trust. Happiness hides in misery.”

“All in the world think themselves great, but the great are not concerned. Indeed, only by not being concerned can they be great. If they cared about being great, they’d eventually become petty.”

“Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long.”

“Two names emerge from a single origin and both are called mysterious.”

“Do that which consists in taking no action; Pursue that which is not meddlesome; Savor that which has no flavor. Make the small big and the few many; Do good to him who has done you an injury. Lay plans for the accomplishment of the difficult before it becomes difficult; Make something big by starting with it when small. Difficult things in the word must needs have their beginnings in the easy; Big things must needs have their beginnings in the small. Therefore it is because the sage never attempts to be great that he succeeds in becoming great. One who makes promises rashly rarely keeps good faith; One who is in the habit of considering things easy meets with frequent difficulties. Therefore even the sage treats some things as difficult. That is why in the end no difficulties can get the better of him.”

“from self-assertion, and therefore he is distinguished;”

“He who defines himself can't know who he really is. He who has power over others can't empower himself.”

“What makes me liable to great calamity is my having the body (which I call myself); if I had not the body, what great calamity could come to me?”

“It is only by this moderation that there is effected an early return (to man's normal state).”

“Therefore the sage desires what (other men) do not desire, and does not prize things difficult to get; he learns what (other men) do not learn, and turns back to what the multitude of men have passed by.”

“The door and windows are cut out (from the walls) to form an apartment; but it is on the empty space (within), that its use depends.”

“He who (tries to) govern a state by his wisdom is a scourge to it; while he who does not (try to) do so is a blessing.”

“This returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness; and that stillness may be called a reporting that they have fulfilled their appointed end.”