TAO TIT BITS - When Nothing Is Done

"In the pursuit of learning
  everyday something is acquired.
  in the pursuit of Tao
  everyday something is dropped.
  less and less is done.
  until non action is achieved.
  when nothing is done
   nothing is left undone"

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House, 1974

TAO TIT BITS - What is more Important

"It is more important
To see the simplicity,
To realise one's true nature,
To cast off selfishness
And temper desire"

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House, 1974

TAO TIT BITS - Without

'Without desire and still,
the world will settle itself'

Taken from the Tao Te Ching Chapter 37
Translated by Philip J. Ivanhoe

TAO TIT BITS - No Greater

" There is no greater sin
    than desire
   no greater curse
   than discontent
   no greater misfortune
   than wanting something for oneself.
   therefore those who know
   that enough is enough
   will always have enough"

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House, 1974

QUOTATION MARKS - Zhuang Tzu

'We give, we receive, we act, we construct;
all day long we apply our minds 
to struggle against one thing or another
struggles unadorned or struggles concealed,
but in either case tightly packed 
one after another without gap.

The small fears 
leave us nervous and depleted;
the large fears
leave us stunned and blank.

Shooting forth 
like an arrow from a bowstring
such is our presumption
when we arbitrate right and wrong.

Worn away
by autumn and winter;
such is our daily dwindling,
drowning us in our own activities,
unable to turn back'

Written by Zhuang Tzu
Translated by Brook Ziporyn. 

TAO TIT BITS - Better for Everyone

"Give up sainthood, renounce wisdom,
  And it will be a hundred times better for everyone."

Taken from the Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House. 1974

TAO TIT BITS - The Appearance of Words

 

"Truthful words are not beautiful.
   Beautiful words are not truthful"

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House. 1974

TAO TIT BITS - The Sound of Truth

 

"The truth often sounds paradoxical"

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House. 1974

TAO TIT BITS - Those Who Know When To Stop

"Those who are attached to things will suffer much. 
Those who save will suffer heavy loss
A contented person is never disappointed.
Those who know when to stop
do not find themselves in trouble.
They will stay forever safe"

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House. 1974

TAO TIT BITS - A Sense of Awe

 

"When people lack a sense of awe, 
   there will be disaster."

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House. 1974

TAO TIT BITS - Unbending

'A tree that is unbending is easily broken'

 Extract from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Published by Wildwood House 1974.

TAO TIT BITS - All Things Will Come To You

"Yield and overcome; Bend and be straight;
Empty and be full; Wear out and be new;
Have little and gain; Have much and be confused.
Be really whole and all things will come to you"

Edited from the Tao The Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House, 1974

TAO TIT BITS - The Farther You Go

"Without going outside, 
  you may know the whole world.
  Without looking through the window, 
  you may see the ways of heaven.
  The farther you go, 
  the less you know"

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House. 1974

TAO TIT BITS - Sometimes

"Sometimes things are ahead
and sometimes they are behind;
Sometimes breathing is hard,
sometimes it comes easy;
Sometimes there is strength
and sometimes weakness;
Sometimes one is up
and sometimes down.
Therefore the sage avoids extremes,
excess, and complacency"

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House. 1974

TAO TIT BITS - Keeping to the Main Road

"If I have even just a little sense,
I will walk on the main road and my only fear will be straying from it.
Keeping to the main road is easy
But people love to be sidetracked".

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House. 1974

TAO TIT BITS - What is Natural?

"Mankind follows the earth
  Earth follows heaven
  Heaven follows the Tao
  Tao follows what is natural."

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House. 1974

TAO TIT BITS - Seeing & Achieving

"See the simplicity in the complicated.
  Achieve greatness in little things."

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House, 1974

TAO TIT BITS - Being Rich

"Those who know they have enough are rich."

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House. 1974

TAO TIT BITS - The Roots of Happiness

 

"Happiness is rooted in misery.
  Misery lurks beneath happiness."

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House, 1974

TAO TIT BITS - On the Verge of Success

 

"People usually fail when they are on the verge of success.
  So give as much care to the end as to the beginning."

Taken from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng, Publisher Wildwood House, 1974