In the pursuit of learning, one gains daily. In the pursuit of the Tao, one loses daily -- losing and losing until one arrives at wu wei. Through non-action, nothing is left undone.
為学日益、為道日損。損之又損、以至於無為。無為而無不為。
Philosophers
Laozi
Semi-legendary Chinese philosopher of the 6th century BC who taught wu wei -- effortless action aligned with nature. His Tao Te Ching founded Taoism and shaped twenty-five centuries of East Asian thought.
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Laozi's Other Quotes
The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The highest goodness is like water. Water benefits all things and does not compete; it dwells in places others disdain, and so is close to the Tao.
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Nothing in the world is softer than water, yet nothing surpasses it in overcoming the hard and strong.
Related Quotes
Blue dye is extracted from the indigo plant, yet it is bluer than indigo itself.
-- Xunzi
Learning must never cease.
-- Xunzi
Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.
-- Confucius
When three walk together, one is surely my teacher. I follow what is good and correct what is not.
-- Confucius
Knowing it is less than loving it; loving it is less than delighting in it.
-- Confucius
I fear the man of a single book.
-- Thomas Aquinas