Age is a tyrant, who forbids, at the penalty of life, all the pleasures of youth.
The passions do very often give birth to others of a nature most contrary to their own. Thus avarice sometimes brings forth prodigality, and prodigality avarice; a man?s resolution is very often the effect of levity, and his boldness that of cowardice and fear.
We often forgive those who bore us, but we cannot forgive those whom we bore.
Perfect valour consists in doing without witnesses that which we would be capable of doing before everyone.
It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.
Plenty of people wish to become devout, but no one wishes to be humble.
True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen.
Sometimes we are less unhappy in being deceived by those we love, than in being undeceived by them.
Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for their want of fortune and their lack of merit.
Philosophy triumphs easily over past and future evils; but present evils triumph over it.
The virtues are lost in self-interest as rivers are lost in the sea.
True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary, and nothing but what is necessary.
The affections are like lightning: you cannot tell where they will strike till they have fallen.
A man should live with his superiors as he does with his fire: not too near, lest he burn; nor too far off, lest he freeze.
One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody everything every night before you go to bed.
All married couples should learn the art of battle as they should learn the art of making love. Good battle is objective and honest- never vicious or cruel. Good battle is healthy and constructive, and brings to a marriage the principle of equal partnership.
Kindness in ourselves is the honey that blunts the sting of unkindness in another.
Clay is molded to form a cup, But it is on its non-being that the utility of the cup depends. Doors and windows are cut out to make a room, But it is on its non-being that the utility of the room depends. Therefore turn being into advantage, and turn non-being into utility.
The best man in his dwelling loves the earth. In his heart, he loves what is profound. In his associations, he loves humanity. In his words, he loves faithfulness. In government, he loves order. In handling affairs, he loves competence. In his activities, he loves timeliness. It is because he does not compete that he is without reproach.
The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; The Named is the mother of all things. Therefore let there always be non-being so we may see their subtlety, And let there always be being so we may see their outcome. The two are the same, But after they are produced, they have different names. They both may be called deep and profound. Deeper and more profound, The door of all subtleties!
If the Great Way perishes there will morality and duty. When cleverness and knowledge arise great lies will flourish. When relatives fall out with one another there will be filial duty and love. When states are in confusion there will be faithful servants.
He who knows does not speak; He who speaks does not know. He who is truthful is not showy; He who is showy is not truthful. He who is virtuous does not dispute; He who disputes is not virtuous. He who is learned is not wise; He who is wise is not learned. Therefore the sage does not display his own merits.
Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained...
The Way of Heaven does not compete, And yet it skillfully achieves victory. It does not speak, and yet it skillfully responds to things. It comes to you without your invitation. It is not anxious about things and yet is plans well. Heaven's net is indeed vast. Though its meshes are wide, it misses nothing.
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.
From of old the things that have acquired unity are these: Heaven by unity has become clear; Earth by unity has become steady; The Spirit by unity has become spiritual; The Valley by unity has become full; All things by unity have come into existence.
Be assured those will be thy worst enemies, not to whom thou hast done evil, but who have done evil to thee. And those will be thy best friends, not to whom thou hast done good, but who have done good to thee.
Be not affronted at a joke. If one throw salt at thee, thou wilt receive no harm, unless thou art raw.
Call him wise whose actions, words, and steps are all a clear because to a clear why.
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible.
There is a time in the tides of men, Which, taken at its flood, leads on to success. On the other hand, don't count on it.
Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.
War I abhor, and yet how sweet The sound along the marching street Of drum and fife, and I forget Wet eyes of widows, and forget Broken old mothers, and the whole Dark butchery without a soul.