Wen-Tzu Toot and branches

"...If we truely arrive at the root, we will not be confused by the branches; If we know what is essential, we will not be swayed by doubt.

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 81

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 81:

The Sage does not take to hoarding,
he does not accumulate anything;
but gives it all to others.

The more they live for others,
The fuller is their own life.

The more they give,
The more abundance they have.
Having more, they give more.

Heaven does good to all...
The sage imitates it,
acting for the good of all...

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 80

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 80:

...Content with healthy food,
pleased with useful clothes,
Satisfied in snug homes...

Tao De Ching

Verse 78:

Nothing under heaven is softer or more yielding that water.
Yet for attacking the hard, nothing can surpass it...

Tao De Ching

Verse 77:

... The master can keep giving
because there is no end to his wealth.

He acts without expectation...

Tao De Ching

Verse 76:

A man is born gentle and weak;
at his death he is hard and stiff.

Green plants are soft and pliable in life;
dry and brittle in death.

Stiffness and unbending is the companion of death;
Flexibility and gentleness the companion of life...

A tree that cannot bend,
will crack in the wind.

The hard and the stiff will be broken;
the soft and the supple will prevail.

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 74

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 74:

If you realize that all things change,
there is nothing to hold on to.

If men are not afraid of dying,
to threaten death has no meaning.

Tao De Ching Excerpt

Verse 73:

Bold action against others leads to death.
Bold action in harmony with The Tao leads to life...

Tao De Ching Excerpt

Verse 72:

... the sage knows himself,
but makes no show of himself;
he has self-respect,
but does not exalt himself...

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 70

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 70:

...the sage dresses plainly.
though is heart is filled with precious gems.

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 69

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 69:

...when two opponents meet,
the one without an enemy will surely triumph.

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 68

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 68:

A good soldier is not violent.
A good fighter is not angry.
A good winner is not vengeful.
A good employer is humble
This is known as the virtue of not striving.
This is known as the ability to deal with people.
Since ancient times, this has been known as the ultimate unity with heaven.

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 67

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 67:

...mercy...frugality...humility...

From mercy comes courage.
From frugality comes generosity.
From humility comes leadership.

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 66

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 66:

... The sage stays low
So the world never tires of exalting him.

He remains a servant
So the world never tires of making him king.

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 65

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 65:

The ancient wise ones were simple-hearted and blended with the common people...

The simplest pattern is the clearest.

Contentment with an ordinary life,
shows all people the way back to their own true nature.

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 64

Tao De Ching Excerpt Verse 64:
Act before things exist;...
A tree that fills a man's embrace grows from a seedling.
A tower nine stories high starts with one brick.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Tao De Ching Excerpt from Verse 63

Verse 63 Excerpt:
Practice nonaction.
Work without doing.
Taste the tasteless...

Reward bitterness with care.
See simplicity in the complicated...

Take on difficulties while they are still easy;
Do great things while they are small...

Because the sage always confronts difficulties,
He never experiences them.

Tao Te Ching Excerpt

Tao Te Ching Excerpt Verse 62:

If someone seems wicked,
Do not cast them away.
Awaken them with words;
Elevate them with deeds;
Repay injury with kindness;
Do not cast them away,
just cast away the wickedness.

Tao Te Ching Excerpt

Tao Te Ching Excerpt Verse 61:

A great county is like the lowland,
toward which all streams flow...

The feminine wins over the masculine with stillness ...

So if a great counter lowers itself before a small one,
it wins with friendship and trust.

If a small country lowers itself before a great one,
it will also win over that great country.

The one wins by stooping;
the other by remaining low.

Tao Te Ching Excerpt

Tao Te Ching Excerpt Verse 60:

... like frying a small fish,
you can spoil anything with too much poking ...