WORDS & IDEAS
Ziran 自然
So of itself. What unfolds of itself. The familiar translation “nature” can obscure the phrase’s sense of spontaneity and being so on one’s own.
The quiet leader
太上，下知有之，其次，亲而誉之，其次，畏之，其次，侮之。
In the highest antiquity, (the people) did not know that there were (their rulers). In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they…
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希言自然。
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…
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有物混成，先天地生。
There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence before Heaven and Earth. How still it was and formless, standing alone, and undergoing…
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道生之，德畜之，物形之，势成之。
All things are produced by the Tao, and nourished by its outflowing operation. They receive their forms according to the nature of each, and are completed…
Read chapterA journey of a thousand miles
其安易持，其未兆易谋。
That which is at rest is easily kept hold of; before a thing has given indications of its presence, it is easy to take measures against it; that which is…
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