Not to desire material things is to know the freedom of spirituality; and to desire them is to suffer the limitations of matter. (Location 28)
The earth and the stars do not take sides— they are impartial. They regard all individuals as insignificant, as though they were playthings made of straw. The wise are also impartial; to them all people are equal and alike. (Location 59)
The wise humble themselves— and because of their humility, they are worthy of praise. They put others first, and so become great. They are not focused on outcomes or achievements; (Location 74)
therefore they always succeed. (Location 77)
To win true merit—to earn a good reputation— you must be prudent. (Location 90)
Everything that lives has a physical body, but the value of a life is measured by the soul. (Location 107)
Too much light blinds the eye; too much noise deafens the ear; too many spices dull the taste; too much exercise weakens the body; the pursuit of great riches leads to ruin. The wise attend to the inner truth of things and are not fooled by outward appearances. They ignore matter and seek the spirit. (Location 110)
Flattery and disgrace are both to be feared, just as overeating and starvation are both harmful to the body. (Location 115)
To clarify muddy waters, you must hold them still and let things settle. To glimpse the secret of the Tao, you must keep still and quiet your mind. (Location 139)
Here are the four fundamentals of true spirituality: recognize simplicity, cherish purity, reduce your possessions, diminish your desires. (Location 169)
It is unnatural to walk on tiptoe. Try to elevate yourself above others, and you will soon fall. Those who display themselves do not shine; those who inflate themselves do not grow; those who assert themselves do not gain merit. The relation of these things— self-display, self-inflation, and self-assertion— to the Tao is the same as fat to lean meat. They are unhealthy excesses, fit to be trimmed off and discarded. (Location 210)
The wise never forget their dignity; though surrounded by dazzling sights, they remain calm and unmoved. (Location 229)
The wise take the lost under their wings, and so the lost become newfound treasures of the wise. Each is valuable to the other. This is the significance of spirituality. (Location 240)
Those who know both their strengths and their limits become models worth following. (Location 247)
The way of the Tao is simple— stop striving, defeat desire. In the absence of striving, there is peace; in the absence of desire, there is satisfaction. (Location 316)
Not extreme perfection, but purity and clarity are the targets at which we should aim. (Location 385)
Those who talk do not know; those who know do not talk. The wise shut their mouths and watch their actions. They dull their sharpness, unravel their tangles, dim their brilliance, and embrace the mysterious. They cannot be moved by praise or blame; they cannot be changed by profit or loss; they cannot be honored or humiliated. And so the wise are truly honored. (Location 469)
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Those who possess moderation will endure; they have deep roots and strong stems. This is the secret to a long life, and lasting insight into the Tao. (Location 499)
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