This has long been my favorite quote ever. It’s simple and poignant. I’ve carried a copy of Tao #33 in my notebook for years.
Tao # 33
He who knows men is clever;
He who knows himself has insight.
He who conquers men has force;
He who conquers himself is truly strong.He who knows when he has got enough is rich,
And he who adheres assiduously to the path of Tao is a man of steady purpose
He who stays where he has found his true home endures long,
And he who dies but perishes not enjoys real longevity.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Amazing stuff man. Great words to live by. Thanks for sharing this.
Hey Brian,
This is semi-coincidental but also not related at all, haha, that made sense in my head.
Anyway, I’m having a ‘religious study’ phase and have just read about Hindu’s and yesterday about Buddhism, have you got any good recommendations for learning more about Tao?
@ Andrew – The best place to start is the Tao Te Ching. My favorite translation is this one: Tao Te Ching. Taoism, in my opinion, is a great study prior to Zen Buddhism. Taoism was never a “practical” philosophy, mainly being followed by old men after they had lived their lives. Zen is a practical and, in my opinion, fun philosophy. After reading the Tao Te Ching, start reading up on Zen Buddhism. A great place to start is The Way of Zen by Alan Watts. If you’re reading into Buddhism, be sure to check out Wake Up by Jack Kerouac as well.