Old sayings​

 

 

 

 

Lao Tze (老子，571 BC－471 BC): ​​

• Tao that can be described is not universal and eternal Tao. Name that can be named is not universal and eternal Name. (道可道，非常道；名可名，非常名)

• The best virtue is like water. Water benefits everything in the world but never contends its own contribution. (上善若水，水善利万物而不争)

• Great wisdom is like ignorance, great skill is like clumsiness, great sound is like silence. (大智若愚，大巧若拙，大音希声)

• For I am abstracted from the world, the world from nature, nature from the way, and the way from what is beneath abstraction. (人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然)

• Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment. (知人者慧，自知者明)

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Confucius (孔子，551 BC－479 BC): ​​

• When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. (三人行，必有我师焉)

• To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge. (知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也)

• What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others. (己所不欲，勿施于人)

• Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practises it will have neighbours. (德不孤，必有邻)

• The superior man aims at harmony but not at uniformity. (君子和而不同)

• In teaching there should be no distinction of classes. (有教无类)

• If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand. (人无远虑，必有近忧)

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Zhuang Zhou (庄子，369 BC－286 BC): ​​

• Birds and animals are not tired of high, fish and turtle are not tired of deep. (鸟兽不厌高，鱼鳖不厌深)

• Heaven and earth have great beauty and no words. (天地有大美而不言)

• The person is not the fish, to know the joy of fish. (子非鱼，安知鱼之乐)

• The friendship between the gentleman is like water. (君子之交淡如水)

• It is better to forget each other in the river and lake. (相濡以沫，不如相忘于江湖)