The book is sometimes called Dao De Jing, or Tao Te Ching. This is one of the best books I’ve read.
This short book of around 5,000 Chinese characters is divided into 81 brief chapters filled with short, enigmatic paragraphs of advice on life, and poetic descriptions of the nature of the universe.
It talks about Dao which he explains. It is like the life-force all around us, the natural energy and order of things. It’s also spiritual, and Dao could also be explained as “God”. This is where Taoism comes from.
One of the most famous quotes from this book is:
千里之行，始于足下 “A journey of a thousands miles starts with a single step”
Many native Chinese speakers say it’s a difficult book to read. It seems to be very hard to read in Chinese, for native people, because it’s written in traditional Chinese and also it’s very vague and open and seems to have lots of meaning.
However one of the best ways I’ve found is Wayne Dyer’s Living the Wisdom of the Tao.
He translates each one into English and also explains it.
There is something about a translation, of taking concepts from one language and putting them in a new one, that forces you to deeply understand them. Its very possible to translate incorrectly, its also very possible that the translation can be clearer and more precise than the original.
For these reasons I think that native Chinese speakers could benefit from reading the English versions too.
I read Dr. Wayne Dyer’s of Dao De Qing version which has the translation and his interpretation, so its actually quite simple. I highly recommend it for its simplicity and wisdom.
One of the great themes of the book is how we can learn from nature, and relax and let go. I love the simplicity of it.
Here are some quotes from the book:
Quotes from Dao De Jing
“Let it be still, and it will gradually become clear.”
“A leader is best When people barely know he exists Of a good leader, who talks little, When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, They will say, ‘We did this ourselves.'”
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.”
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.”
“To a mind that is still the whole universe surrenders.”
“What is firmly rooted cannot be pulled out.”
“If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.”
“The wise man is one who, knows, what he does not know.”
“The further one goes, the less one knows.”
“How do I know the way of all things at the Beginning? By what is within me.”
“Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?”
“The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.”
“Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.”
“A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.”
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.”
“Stop thinking, and end your problems.”
“The world belongs to those who let go.”
“Nothing in the world is softer and weaker than water; / But, for attacking the hard and strong, there is nothing like it! / For nothing can take its place. / That the weak overcomes the strong, and the soft overcomes the hard, / This is something known by all, but practiced by none.”
“Only when we are sick of our sickness / Shall we cease to be sick.”
