Inspirational Quotes by Zhiming Yuan

“El gran gobernante pasa inadvertido por el pueblo. A éste sucede el que es amado y elogiado por el pueblo. Después, el que es temido. Y finalmente, el despreciado.”

“Pon en desuso la sagacidad y la búsqueda del beneficio y el robo y la estafa dejarán de tener lugar entre los tuyos.”

“To know and to think we know not, is the crown. Not to know and to think we know, is the affliction.”

“Si un hombre quiere darle forma al mundo, modelarlo a su capricho, difícilmente lo conseguirá. El mundo es un jarro sagrado que no se puede manipular ni retocar. Quien trata de hacerlo, lo deforma. Quien lo aferra, lo pierde. Por eso el sabio no intenta modelarlo, luego no lo deforma. No lo aferra, luego no lo pierde. Hay quienes marchan adelante, hay quienes marchan atrás. Hay quienes permanecen callados, hay quienes hablan. Algunos son fuertes, otros débiles. Algunos medran, otros perecen. Luego el sabio rechaza el exceso, la extravagancia y la propia complacencia.”

“Wanting to reform the world without discovering one’s true self is like trying to cover the world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.”

“是 以 聖 人 處 無 為 之 事 ， 行 不 言 之 教 ﹔ 萬 物 作 而 弗 始 ， 生 而 弗 有 ， 為 而 弗 恃 ， 功 成 而 不 居”

“If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled.”

“حيثما تعسكر القوات ينبت شجر الشوك وفي أعقاب الجيوش الجرارة يذوي الحصاد اذا كان لابد من الحرب فعجل في إنهائها عجل في إنهائها ولاتتفاخر عجل في إنهائها ولاتتبجح عجل في إنهائها ولاتتغطرس عجل في إنهائها ولاتروّع الناس”

“Or fame or life, Which do you hold more dear? Or life or wealth, To which would you adhere? Keep life and lose those other things; Keep them and lose your life:-- which brings Sorrow and pain more near?”

“I let go of religion, and people become serene.”

“The ancient Masters were profound and subtle. Their wisdom was unfathomable. There is no way to describe it; all we can describe is their appearance. They were careful as someone crossing an iced-over stream. Alert as a warrior in enemy territory. Courteous as a guest. Fluid as melting ice. Shapable as a block of wood. Receptive as a valley. Clear as a glass of water. Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself? The Master doesn’t seek fulfillment.. Not seeking, not expecting, she is present, and can welcome all things.”

“Who thinks his great achievements poor Shall find his vigour long endure.”

“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.”

“Therefore a sage has said, 'I will do nothing (of purpose), and the people will be transformed of themselves; I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct.”

“故 常 無 ，欲 以 觀 其 妙 ﹔常 有 ，欲 以 觀 其 徼”

“If you are compassionate, you can be truly courageous; if you are economical, you can be truly generous; if you are humble, you can be truly helpful. If you are brave but lack compassion, are generous but lack economy, and try to help others but lack humility, you’ve lost the way.”

“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. Thus he helps the natural development of all things, and does not dare to act (with an ulterior purpose of his own).”

“Reduce what you have. Decrease what you want.”

“Beware of those who promise a quick and easy way, for much ease brings many difficulties.”

“Those who know others are intelligent; those who understand themselves are enlightened.”