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

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

China Asia

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.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Lao Tzu

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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More information about this quote
Topic
Patience All in good time Nature Teleology

Author

Lao Tzu
Source
Tao Te Ching
Genre
Philosophical literature Religious literature
Language
Chinese
Time
400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 37.

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. 37.

Another quote from the 5th century BC

One cannot step twice into the same river, for the waters are continually flowing on.

Heraclitus

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More information about this quote
Topic
The only constant is change Change Rivers

Author

Heraclitus
Medium
Presocratic fragment Fragment
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Paradox
Language
Greek
Time
5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Heraclitus. Fragments. 5th century BC, DK B12.

Current Citation

Heraclitus. "Heraclitus of Ephesus." The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009, DK B12.

Another quote originally in Chinese

Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

Sun Tzu

The Art of War

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More information about this quote
Topic
Military strategy

Author

Sun Tzu
Source
The Art of War
Medium
Treatise
Genre
Military treatise
Language
Chinese
Time
490 BC 490s BC 5th century BC
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Sun Tzu. 孫子兵法 [The Art of War]. c. 475 BC, ch. 6.

Current Citation

Sun Tzu. The Art of War: The Essential Translation of the Classic Book of Life, translated by John Minford. Penguin Classics, 2009, ch. 6.

Another quote of the following type Paradox

He who knows most, knows best how little he knows.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Intellectual humility

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Statement Type
Paradox
Language
English
Time
1812 1810s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Thomas Jefferson’s Batture Pamphlet. 25 Feb. 1812.