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Explore 68 quotes originally in Chinese

The pursuit of learning is to increase day after day.
The pursuit of Tao is to decrease day after day.
It is to decrease and further decrease until one reaches the point of taking no action.
No action is undertaken, and yet nothing is left undone.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Tao Doing less Inaction

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 48.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 48.

Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.

Mao Zedong

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Topic

Politics War

Speaker

Mao Zedong

Medium

Lecture

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Chinese

Time

1938 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Zedong, Mao. "On Protracted Warfare." Yenan Association for the Study of the War of Resistance Against Japan. 26 May - 3 June 1938, Yenan, China. Lecture series.

The universe and I exist together, and all things and I are one.

Zhuang Zhou

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Topic

Interconnectedness of all things Man and the universe The universe

Author

Zhuang Zhou

Source

Zhuang Zhou

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Zhou, Zhuang. 莊子 [Zhuangzi]. c. 221 BC, ch. 2.

The great man is he who does not lose his child's heart.

Mencius

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Topic

Great men Man and child

Author

Mencius

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

300 BC 300s BC 4th century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Mencius. Mengzi. c. 300 BC, bk. 4.

Current Citation

Mencius. Mencius, translated by D. C. Lau. Penguin Classics, 2005, bk. 4.

People suppose that words are different from the peeps of baby birds, but is there any difference, or isn't there?

Zhuangzi

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Topic

Man and animals Language

Author

Zhuangzi

Language

Chinese

Time

220 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Zhou, Zhuang. Discussion on Making All Things Equal. c. 221 BC.

When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit, because their strength is not adequate to resist.

Mencius

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Topic

Use of force Submission

Author

Mencius

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

300 BC 300s BC 4th century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Mencius. Mengzi. c. 300 BC, bk. 2.

Current Citation

Mencius. Mencius, translated by D. C. Lau. Penguin Classics, 2005, bk. 2.

The people turn to a benevolent rule as water flows downwards, and as wild beasts fly to the wilderness.

Mencius

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Topic

Political theory

Author

Mencius

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Chinese

Time

300 BC 300s BC 4th century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Mencius. Mengzi. c. 300 BC, bk. 4.

Current Citation

Mencius. Mencius, translated by D. C. Lau. Penguin Classics, 2005, bk. 4.

I have done my plowing:
I have sown my seed.
Again I have time to sit and read my books.

Tao Yuanming

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Topic

Leisure Reading

Author

Tao Yuanming

Language

Chinese

Time

427 420s 5th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Yuanming, Tao. Reading the Book of Hills and Seas. c. 427.

Seekers of the Way. In Buddhism no effort is necessary. All one has to do is to do nothing except to move his bowels, urinate, put on his clothing, eat his meals, and lie down if he is tired. The stupid will laugh at him, but the wise will understand.

Linji Yixuan

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Topic

Letting go Simple living Slowing down

Author

Linji Yixuan

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

886 880s 9th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Linji Yixuan [I-Hsuan]. Recorded conversation with Zen Master I-Hsuan. c. 866 AD.

Current Citation

Linji Yixuan. Quoted in A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated and compiled by Wing-tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 2008.

The atom bomb is a paper tiger which the United States reactionaries use to scare people. It looks terrible, but in fact it isn't... All reactionaries are paper tigers.

Mao Zedong

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Topic

Nuclear weapons

Speaker

Mao Zedong

Medium

Interview

Language

Chinese

Time

1946 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Zedong, Mao. Talk with the American Correspondent Anna Louise Strong. Aug. 1946.

Those who are contented and at ease when the occasion comes and live in accord with the course of Nature cannot be affected by sorrow or joy. This is what the ancients called release from bondage. Those who cannot release themselves are so because they are bound by material things.

Zhuang Zhou

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Topic

Letting go Attachment (Buddhism)

Author

Zhuang Zhou

Source

Zhuang Zhou

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Zhou, Zhuang. 莊子 [Zhuangzi]. c. 221 BC, ch. 6.

Resemblance reproduces the formal aspect of objects, but neglects their spirit; truth shows the spirit and substance in like perfection.

Jing Hao

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Topic

Painting

Author

Jing Hao

Source

Notes on Brushwork

Language

Chinese

Time

925 920s 10th century

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Ching Hao. Pi-fa-chi [Notes on Brushwork]. c. 925.

Current Citation

Ching Hao. Ching Hao's Pi-fa-chi: A Note on the Art of Brush, translated by Kiyohiko Munakata. Artebus Asiae Publishers, 1974.

A man should not marry after thirty years of age; should not enter the government service after the age of forty; should not have any more children after the age of fifty; and should not travel after the age of sixty. This is because the proper time for those things has passed.

Shi Nai'An

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Topic

Stages of life Opportune time Timing

Author

Shi Nai'An

Source

Water Margin

Language

Chinese

Time

1524 1520s 16th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Shi Nai'an. Water Margin. c. 1524, vol. 1, introduction.

Current Citation

Shi Naian. The Water Margin, translated by J. H. Jackson. Tuttle Publishing, 2010, forward.

As your ambassador can see for himself we possess all things. I set no value on objects strange or ingenious, and have no use for your country's manufactures.

Qianlong Emperor

Writing to George III after the first British trade mission had reached Beijing.

More information about this quote

Topic

China Xenophobia

Author

Qianlong Emperor

Medium

Letter

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

1793 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Qianlong. Letter to George III. 1783.

Once literature is contrived as the hymn of the nation, the flag of the race, the mouthpiece of a political party or the voice of a class or a group it can be employed as a mighty and all-engulfing tool of propaganda. However, such literature loses what is inherent in literature, ceases to be literature, and becomes a substitute for power and profit.

Gao Xingjian

The Case for Literature

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Topic

Literature

Speaker

Gao Xingjian

Source

The Case for Literature

Medium

Nobel Prize Lecture Speech

Language

Chinese

Time

2000 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Gao Xingjian. "The Case for Literature." Nobel Lecture. 7 Dec. 2000, Swedish Academy, Stockholm, Sweden.

He who knows others is wise;
He who knows himself is enlightened.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Self-knowledge

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 2.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 2.

He who is influenced neither by the soaking in of slander nor by the assault of denunciation may indeed be called illumined.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Criticism from others

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

The Tao that can be told of is not the eternal Tao;
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth;
The Named is the mother of all things.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Tao

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 1.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 1.

To pursue it is to be human, to give it up is to be a beast.

Xunxi

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Topic

Education Self-improvement

Author

Xunxi

Source

An Exhortation to Learning

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

250 BC 250s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Xunzi. Xunzi. c. 238 BC.

Current Citation

Xunzi. Xunzi: The Complete Text, translated by Eric L. Hutton. Princeton University Press, 2014, ch. 1.

The superior man will not manifest either narrowmindedness or the want of self-respect.

Mencius

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Topic

Golden mean

Author

Mencius

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

300 BC 300s BC 4th century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Mencius. Mengzi. c. 300 BC, bk. 2.

Current Citation

Mencius. Mencius, translated by D. C. Lau. Penguin Classics, 2005, bk. 2.