Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching – My Notes

28 Nov Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching – My Notes

The ‘Tao Te Ching” or the “Lao Tzu” was surprisingly relevant. Written sometime in either the 4th or 3rd Century BC, a lot of circumstantial information about the book and its author has been lost to history, and even the accuracy of the text itself is somewhat sketchy. Still, this short book was a joy to read and one that I’m sure I’ll be coming back to frequently.

If you survey my underlines below, you’ll notice that almost all of my underlines are in bold–this is because almost everything worth underlining was just so good. The writing is in a very memorable, pithy format that just begs to be revisited or memorized.

In fact, revisiting it is almost a requirement, as most passages are highly ‘meditative’. They are composed in a way that encourages reflection and contemplation. Remember, Lao Tzu/Tao Te Ching is one of the foundational works of Taoism, a quasi-religious philosophy that doesn’t shy away from the spiritual or metaphysical.

If you’ve never read the Lao Tzu/Tao Te Ching, I highly recommend it. If you decide to pick up a copy, I recommend this version (which at this moment is less than $7.)

Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching Underlines

[My favorites are emboldened and indented. It just so happens that most of my underlines in the Lao Zu are worthy of emboldening and/or memorizing.]

He who values his body more than dominion over the empire can be entrusted with the empire. He who loves his body more than dominion over the empire can be given the custody of the empire.  31

The gentleman when traveling all day
Never lets the heavily laden carts out of his sight.
It is only when he is safely behind walls and watchtowers
That he rests peacefully and is above worries.
How, then, should a ruler of ten thousand chariots
Make light of his own person in the eye of the empire? 59a

Where troops have encamped
There will brambles grow;
In the wake of a mighty army
Bad harvests follow without fail. 69

The instrument of power in a state must not be revealed to anyone. 80

He who knows others is clever;
He who knows himself has discernment.
He who overcomes others has force;
He who overcomes himself is strong.
He who knows contentment is rich;
He who perseveres is a man of purpose;
He who does not lose his station will endure;
He who lives out his days has had a long life. 74

The [man of the highest virtue] never acts yet leaves nothing undone. The [man of the lowest virtue] acts but there are things left undone. 82

When the best student hears about the way
He practices it assiduously;
When the average student hears about the way
It seems to him one moment there and gone the next;
When the worst student hears about the way
He laughs out loud.
If he did not laugh
It would be unworthy of being the way. 90

The most submissive thing in the world can ride roughshod over the hardest in the world–that which is without substance entering that which has no crevices.
That is why I know the benefit of resorting to no action. The teaching that uses no words, the benefit of resorting to no action, these are beyond the understanding of all but a very few in the world. 98

When the way prevails in the empire, fleet-footed horses are relegated to ploughing the fields; when the way does not prevail in the empire, ware-horses breed on the border. 104

One who knows does not speak; one who speaks does not know. 128

Govern the state by being straightforward; wage war by being crafty; but win the empire by not being meddlesome. 131

Beautiful words when offered will win high rank in return;
Beautiful deeds can raise a man above others. 144

One who makes promises rashly rarely keeps good faith; one who is in the habit of considering things easy meets with frequent difficulties.
Therefore even the sage treats some things as difficult. That is why in the end no difficulties can get the better of him. 151

To know yet to think that one does not know is best;
Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty. 173