QUOTATIONS & THEIR CONTEXT
More than a familiar phrase.
Return a quotation to the chapter around it. English excerpts below follow James Legge’s historical translation.
CHAPTER 8
上善若水
The highest excellence is like (that of) water.Read the whole chapter ↗
CHAPTER 64
千里之行，始于足下
The journey of a thousand li commenced with a single step.Read the whole chapter ↗
CHAPTER 33
知人者智，自知者明
He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent.Read the whole chapter ↗
CHAPTER 11
有之以为利，无之以为用
What has a (positive) existence serves for profitable adaptation, and what has not that for (actual) usefulness.Read the whole chapter ↗
CHAPTER 78
天下莫柔弱于水
There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water.Read the whole chapter ↗
CHAPTER 67
一曰慈，二曰俭，三曰不敢为天下先
The first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking from taking precedence of others.Read the whole chapter ↗
CHAPTER 56
知者不言，言者不知
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.Read the whole chapter ↗
CHAPTER 81
信言不美，美言不信
Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere.Read the whole chapter ↗