#robert brookes

@grody-cosplay-n-crap, your name with the top comment does appear in the fully clicked on version of the image, too. So he saw the whole thing! I hope this sways him in his writing if he hasn't fully finished it yet! Hopefully there will be no throwing down! LOL! 💗

That which is at rest is easily held. That which has not yet emerged is easily prevented. That which is fragile is easily shattered. That which is small is easily dispersed.

Deal with things before they emerge, set things in order before there is discord.

The giant tree starts out as the tiniest shoot, the tallest tower starts out as a single brick, the longest journey starts with the first step.

Taking action leads to failure, seizing at things results in their loss. Therefore the wise person does not act and does not fail, he does not grasp and thus loses nothing.

People pursue their affairs, constantly near success, and yet ultimately meet with failure. If you are as careful at the end as at the beginning, your activities will not end in failure.

The wise person seeks freedom from desire and does not treasure precious things. He learns not to hold onto ideas.

He restores what others pass by, and thereby assists in their development naturally. He does not presume to interfere.

The ancient masters cultivated the mysterious essence. They were profound, subtle - beyond our ability to comprehend. For this reason we cannot know them, but we can describe their existence:

Cautious, as if crossing an icy river in winter. Vigilant, as if surrounded by unseen dangers. Reverent, as if receiving honored guests.

As malleable as ice when it begins to melt, as unspoiled as an uncarved block, as receptive as a vast open valley.

Obscure as muddied water. But with stillness, muddy waters clear. Can you also act while remaining still?

Keeping to the Tao, one does not approach extremes, one becomes an empty vessel. It is enough to surrender, without beginning anew.

The Tao is nameless and as pure as uncarved wood. Although the Tao seems insignificant, no one can command it. The leader that can act in accordance with it will find that everything is naturally in accord with him.

When heaven and earth in their symmetry combine, the world is benefited by rainfall. People will also naturally follow their course in harmony, without need of regulation.

When people first had regulation, it became necessary to label things as 'this' or 'that'. This naming could go on and on, but it is best to know when to stop. Knowing when to stop is the the basis of avoiding troubles.

To picture the Tao's presence in the world, think of streams turning into great rivers, and great rivers turning into seas.

You originate in life, but always return to death.

Three in ten people focus too much on extending life. Three in ten people focus too much on fearing death. Three in ten people focus on living life to the fullest and thus find an early death. Why is this so? Because such people live to excess.

It is said of the one in ten who successfully preserve their life: When traveling they do not fear the wild buffalo or the tiger. When in the battlefield they avoid armor and weapons.

The wild buffalo can find no place to pitch its horns, the tiger can find no place to sink its claws, the soldier can find no place to thrust his sword.

Why is this so? Because he has no place for death in his life.

When the Tao prevails in the world, fast horses do slow work in the field. When the world is without Tao, horses are bred for war.

There is no greater misfortune than not knowing what is enough. There is no greater fault than the desire to possess.

Therefore, if you are satisfied that what you have is enough, you will always be content!

The skillful soldier is not violent, the skillful fighter is not angry, the skillful conqueror is not vengeful. The skillful leader puts himself below others.

This is called the virtue of non-contending, the means of employing the abilities of others. It is known as being in accord with nature's highest principles.

The Tao produced the one, the one divided into the two, the two became the three, and the three are the source of the ten thousand things. Each of the ten thousand things carry yin and and embrace yang, their merging produces chi which creates balance.

People feel disdain towards the solitary, desolate, hapless - yet leaders often refer to themselves by these terms. Thus sometimes people gain when they are diminished, and sometimes people suffer when they gain.

What others teach, so do I: Those who are aggressive and violent never die in peace. I take this in hand and make it the basis of my teaching.