#humility

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing.

Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.

Remember that you must behave in life as at a dinner party. Is anything brought round to you? Put out your hand and take your share with moderation.

If it be the author's pleasure you should act a poor man, a cripple, a governor, or a private person, see that you act it naturally.

Be content, then, with being a philosopher in all things; and if you wish also to appear so to any one, appear so to yourself, and it will be enough.

So long as you are allowed to keep it, take care of it as an innkeeper takes care of the property of a guest.

If a man has reported to you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make any defense, but say: 'He did not know the rest of my faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.'

You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.

What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To throw away self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.

Nature has given to men one tongue, but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.

If you seek truth, you will not seek by any means to gain a victory by slander; and if you find truth, you will not fear being defeated.

The marks of a proficient man are that he censures no one, praises no one, blames no one, accuses no one, says nothing concerning himself as being any body, or knowing any thing.

If you are told that another has spoken ill of you, do not answer him, but laugh, and say: 'The man was ignorant of my other faults, or he would not have mentioned these alone.'

When her work is done, she forgets it. That is why it lasts forever.

Water gathers in the low places that people disdain. Therefore it is like the Tao.

The best leaders are those the people hardly know exist.

When the Master governs, the people are hardly aware that he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: 'We did it ourselves.'

Other people are bright and confident; I alone seem dim and bewildered. Other people are clever and purposeful; I alone seem dull and clumsy.

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

The Master doesn't display himself, therefore people can see his light. He doesn't assert himself, therefore he is recognized.

He who shines his own light doesn't shine. He who praises his own work doesn't achieve.

Do you want to improve the world? I don't think it can be done. The world is sacred. It can't be improved.

The Master avoids excess, extravagance, and complacency.

It accomplishes its work, but claims no credit. It dresses and feeds all things, but doesn't claim to be their master.

The hard and strong will fall. The soft and weak will overcome.

True words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not true. Good men do not argue; those who argue are not good.

The belly is the reason why man does not so readily take himself for a God.

There is an innocence in admiration: it is found in those to whom it has never yet occurred that they, too, might one day be admired.

Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.