LAO-TZE
c.604 - c.521 BC
Chinese Philosopher

Lao-tze is the reputed author of the'Tao Te Ching' and founder of the Taoist religion in China. His name means 'Old Master' and 'Tao' means the 'Way'. The 'Tao Te Ching' teaches a nonagressive approach to life and a stoical indifference to the powers of the world. It called for a return to an imaginary simple way of the past and for a style of life in harmony with the universe. It says that man must imitate the universe, which endures because it does not live for itself. Lao-tze worked as a librarian at the court of Chou. When the kingdom showed signs of decay, Lao-tze left and was never heard of again.

There was something undefined and complete,
coming into existence before Heaven and Earth.
How still it was and formless,
standing alone, and undergoing no change,
reaching everywhere and in no danger of being exhausted!
It may be regarded as the Mother of all things.
I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Tao. . . .
Humanity takes its law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven:
Heaven takes its law from the Tao.
The law of the Tao is its being what it is. ______________________________________________________

The highest excellence is like that of water.
The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving, the low place which all men dislike.
Hence it is near to the Tao.

The excellence of a residence is in the suitability of the place;
that of the mind is in the stillness of the abyss;
that of relationships is in their being with the virtuous;
that of government is in its securing good order; that of the conduct of affairs is in its ability;
and that of any movement is its timeliness.
And when one with the highest excellence does not strive against his low position,
no-one finds fault with him.

Loa Tze