Quiet Independence of Self-Control

"When a person tries to extend
his control over things,
those things will gain control over him.
And the person who is control by things
losses possession of his inner self."

- Chuang Tzu



"The true man of old
Was towering in stature but never collapses,
Seem insufficient but accepted nothing.
Aloofly independent but not obstinate,
Amply empty but not ostentatious,
Demurring, as though he were compelled,
Suffused with an alluring charm,
Endowed with an arresting integrity,
Stern, as though he were worldly,
Arrogant, as though he were uncontrollable,
Reticent, as though he preferred to clam up,
Absent-minded, as thought he forgot what to say."

-  Chuang Tzu, Chapter 6.4
Translated by Victor H. Mair
Wandering on the Way: Early Taoist Tales and Parables of Chuang Tzu, 1994, p.52


It could also be "the true woman of old."  Sometimes the Sage is a woman. Sometimes the Sage is a man.  Some refer using the visually awkward "him/her" phrasing.  

Ten Golden Rules

 Ten Golden Rules for Living the Good Life

  
“1. Examine life, engage life with vengeance; always search for new pleasures and new destines to reach with your mind.

 2.  Worry only about the things that are in your control, the things that can be influenced and changed by your actions, not about the things that are beyond your capacity to direct or alter.  

 3.  Treasure Friendship, the reciprocal attachment that fills the need for affiliation. Friendship cannot be acquired in the market place, but must be nurtured and treasured in relations imbued with trust and amity.  

 4.  Experience True Pleasure. Avoid shallow and transient pleasures. Keep your life simple. Seek calming pleasures that contribute to peace of mind. True pleasure is disciplined and restrained.  

 5.  Master Yourself. Resist any external force that might delimit thought and action; stop deceiving yourself, believing only what is personally useful and convenient; complete liberty necessitates a struggle within, a battle to subdue negative psychological and spiritual forces that preclude a healthy existence; self mastery requires ruthless cador.  

 6.  Avoid Excess. Live life in harmony and balance. Avoid excesses. Even good things, pursued or attained without moderation, can become a source of misery and suffering.  

 7.  Be a Responsible Human Being. Approach yourself with honesty and thoroughness; maintain a kind of spiritual hygiene; stop the blame-shifting for your errors and shortcomings.  

 8.  Don’t Be a Prosperous Fool. Prosperity by itself, is not a cure-all against an ill-led life, and may be a source of dangerous foolishness. Money is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for the good life, for happiness and wisdom.  

 9.  Don’t Do Evil to Others. Evildoing is a dangerous habit, a kind of reflex too quickly resorted to and too easily justified that has a lasting and damaging effect upon the quest for the good life. Harming others claims two victims—the receiver of the harm, and the victimizer, the one who does harm.  

 10.  Kindness towards others tends to be rewarded. Kindness to others is a good habit that supports and reinforces the quest for the good life. Helping others bestows a sense of satisfaction that has two beneficiaries—the beneficiary, the receiver of the help, and the benefactor, the one who provides the help.” 

-   By M. A. Soupious and Panos Mourdoukoutas, The Ten Golden Rules: Ancient Wisdom from the Greek Philosophers on Living the Good Life, 2009. 

Epicureanism

How to Live a Good Life: Advice From Wise Persons

Hedonism, Utilitarianism

Actions and Deeds

"The shortest answer is doing."
-  George Herbert

"No one is wise by birth.  Wisdom results from one's own efforts."
-  Krishnamacharya    

"Will is character in action."
-  William McDougall 

"Willpower is the art of replacing one habit for another."
-  Michael Garofalo  

"It is really vain to express the nature of something.  We notice effects, and a complete account of these effects would perhaps comprise the nature of this thing.  We attempt in vain to describe the character of a man; but a description of his actions and his deeds will create for us a picture of his character."
-  Goethe, The Theory of Colors

Will Power: Quotes, Sayings

Virtue Ethics

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise and Respected Persons

Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones.  By James Clear.  Avery, 2018, 320 pages.  A excellent best seller. 
Clear writing style, positive, informative, practical, and inspiring. VSCL. 

Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About it Now.  By Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen.  25th Anniversary Edition.  De Capo Lifelong, 2008, index, 322 pages.  VSCL. 

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38 Dao De Jing

Dao De Jing by Laozi 
Chapter 38 

"The Master doesn't try to be powerful;
thus he is truly powerful.
The ordinary man keeps reaching for power;
thus he never has enough.

The Master does nothing,
yet he leaves nothing undone.
The ordinary man is always doing things,
yet many more are left to be done.

The kind man does something,
yet something remains undone.
The just man does something,
and leaves many things to be done.
The moral man does something,
and when no one responds
he rolls up his sleeves and uses force.

When the Tao is lost, there is goodness.
When goodness is lost, there is morality.
When morality is lost, there is ritual.
Ritual is the husk of true faith,
the beginning of chaos.

Therefore the Master concerns himself
with the depths and not the surface,
with the fruit and not the flower.
He has no will of his own.
He dwells in reality,
and lets all illusions go."
-   Translated by Stephen Mitchell, Chapter 38



"People with integrity
don't even think about it.
That's how you can tell
they have integrity.
Other people talk about
how much integrity they have,
when they really don't have much,
If any.
Truly powerful people
don't do anything,
but they get the job done. 
Other people are always busy
doing something,
but nothing ever gets done.
When kind people act,
they do so without thinking about it. 
When the just act,
they're always sure
they're doing the right thing.
But when the righteous act,
and nobody reacts, 
they try to force everyone
to do things their way.
If you're not in touch with Tao,
at least you can still have integrity. 
If you don't have integrity,
there's always kindness.
If you don't have kindness,
there's always justice. 
If you don't have justice,
all you have left is righteousness.
Righteousness is an pale imitation
of true faith and loyalty, 
and always leads to trouble.
If you've already made up your mind, 
you don't know the first thing about Tao,
and you never will.
The Masters pay attention
to what's beneath the surface.
They'll look at a tree's leaves,
but eat the fruit.
They turn all that down,
so they can accept this.
-   Translated by Ron Hogan, Chapter 38



"Those who possessed in highest degree the attributes of the Tao did not seek to show them, and therefore they possessed them in fullest measure.
Those who possessed in a lower degree those attributes sought how not to lose them, and therefore they did not possess them in fullest measure.
Those who possessed in the highest degree those attributes did nothing with a purpose, and had no need to do anything.  
Those who possessed them in a lower degree were always doing, and had need to be so doing.
Those who possessed the highest benevolence were always seeking to carry it out, and had no need to be doing so.
Those who possessed the highest righteousness were always seeking to carry it out, and had need to be so doing.
Those who possessed the highest sense of propriety were always seeking to show it, and when men did not respond to it, they bared the arm and marched up to them.
Thus it was that when the Tao was lost, its attributes appeared;
When its attributes were lost, benevolence appeared;
When benevolence was lost, righteousness appeared;
When righteousness was lost, the proprieties appeared.
Now propriety is the attenuated form of leal-heartedness and good faith, and is also the commencement of disorder.
Swift apprehension is only a flower of the Tao, and is the beginning of stupidity.
Thus it is that the Great man abides by what is solid, and eschews what is flimsy; dwells with the fruit and not with the flower.
It is thus that he puts away the one and makes choice of the other."
-   Translated by James Legge, 1891, Chapter 38 

"A man of the highest virtue does not keep to virtue and that is why he has virtue.
A man of the lowest virtue never strays from virtue and that is why he is without virtue.
The former never acts yet leaves nothing undone.
The latter acts but there are things left undone.
A man of the highest benevolence acts, but from no ulterior motive.
A man of the highest rectitude acts, but from ulterior motive.
A man most conversant in the rites acts, but when no one responds rolls up his sleeves and resorts to persuasion by force.
Hence when the way was lost there was virtue;
When virtue was lost there was benevolence;
When benevolence was lost there was rectitude;
When rectitude was lost there were the rites.
The rites are the wearing thin of loyalty and good faith
And the beginning of disorder;
Foreknowledge is the flowery embellishment of the way
And the beginning of folly.
Hence the man of large mind abides in the thick not in the thin, in the fruit not in the flower.
Therefore he discards the one and takes the other."
-   Translated by D. C. Lau, 1891, Chapter 38 

"La alta naturaleza no intenta mantener la naturaleza,
por lo tanto la tiene.
La baja naturaleza intenta no perder la naturaleza,
por lo tanto la pierde.

La alta naturaleza no actúa
porque no tiene razón para hacerlo;
la baja naturaleza actúa,
porque encuentra razón para hacerlo.

El alto humanitarismo actúa
aunque no tenga razón para hacerlo;
La alta equidad actúa
porque encuentra razón para hacerlo.

El ritual más elevado actúa
aunque no halle respuesta,
desnuda las armas y lanza una soga.

Por lo tanto cuando se pierde el Tao, hay naturaleza.
Cuando se pierde la naturaleza, hay humanitarismo.
Cuando se pierde el humanitarismo, hay equidad.
Cuando se pierde la equidad, hay ritual.

En cuanto al ritual, es el delgado filo de la lealtad y la fidelidad y el comienzo del desorden;
En cuanto a la predicción, es el florecimiento del Tao
y el comienzo de la estupidez.

Por lo tanto, una gran persona
guiándose por lo grueso
no mora en lo fino,
guiándose por la semilla
no mora en la flor.
Por lo tanto una persona así deja esto y toma aquéllo."
-  Translated by Álex Ferrara, 2003, Capítulo 38 

"Discourse on Virtue
Lun Teh

Superior virtue is not virtue-conscious,
Therefore it has virtue.
Inferior virtue never forgets virtue,
Therefore it has no virtue.
Superior virtue does not interfere,
And has no motive to interfere.
Inferior virtue interferes,
And has a motive to interfere.
Superior benevolence interferes without motive;
Superior righteousness interferes from motive;
Superior propriety interferes,
And failing to evoke any response,
Lifts its arm and resorts to violence.
Therefore,
After the loss of Tao, virtue appears;
After the loss of virtue, benevolence appears;
After the loss of benevolence, righteousness appears;
After the loss of righteousness, propriety appears.
Propriety is a mere veneer of loyalty and sincerity,
And constitutes the prime cause of confusion.
Traditional knowledge is the flower (outward show) of Tao,
And has become the origin of folly.
Therefore, men of the heroic type abide by depth,
And stay away from shallowness;
Abide by the fruit and stay away from the flower.
Forsooth, they reject this and adopt that."
- Translated by Henry Wei, 1982, Chapter 38

A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses, Sections) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes over 25 different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 Spanish language translations for that Chapter, the Chinese characters for that Chapter, the Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin transliterations (Romanization) of the Mandarin Chinese words for that Chapter, and 2 German and 1 French translation of that Chapter.  Each webpage includes a Google Translate option menu for reading the entire webpage in many other languages.  Each webpage for each one of the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching [246 CE Wang Bi version] includes extensive indexing by key words, phrases, and terms (concordance) for that Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization.  Each webpage on a Chapter of the Daodejing includes recommended reading in books and websites, a detailed bibliography, some commentary, links, research leads, translator sources, and other resources for that Chapter.  

     A Top Tier online free resource for English and Spanish readers, researchers, Daoist devotees, scholars, students, fans and fellow travelers on the Way. 

Chapter 38, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

English Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index

Spanish Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

Taoism: A Selected Reading List

One Old Daoist Druid's Final Journey  

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Desirable Virtues

Thirteen Necessary or Desirable Virtues

1. Temperance.  Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2.  Silence.  Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3.  Order.  Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. 
4.  Resolution.  Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5.  Frugality.  Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; waste nothing.
6.  Industry.  Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7.  Sincerity.  Use not hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8.  Justice.  Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9.  Moderation.  Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10.  Cleanliness.  Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation. 
11.  Tranquility.  Be not disturbed by trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. 
12.  Chastity.  Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; never to dullness, weakness, or injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13.  Humility.  Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

-  Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography 1771-1784
   From The Portable Enlightenment Reader, edited by Isaac Kramnick, 1995, p.484
 

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Virtues

A Philosopher's Notebooks

Virtues Cultivated in Martial Arts Training

"Philosophical ideals in the martial arts:

1. To strive for perfection of character

2. To defend the paths of truth

3. To foster the spirit of effort

4. To honor the principles of etiquette

5. To guard against impetuous courage."

- Herman Kauz, The Martial Spirit: An Introduction to the Origin, Philosophy and Psychology of the Martial Arts.

Seven Essential Principles Of Bushido (The Way Of The Warrior):

1. GI: the right decision, taken with equanimity, the right attitude, the truth. Rectitude.

2. YU: bravery tinged with heroism

3. JIN: universal love, benevolence toward mankind. Compassion.

4. REI: right action - a most essential quality. Courtesy.

5. MAKOTO: utter sincerity. Truthfulness.

6. MELYO: honor and glory.

7. CHUGO: devotion. Loyalty.

- Taisen

"It is said that a calm and stable mind can achieve anything. This is an idea that I hold strong to. If we are not thinking with our wisdom mind then we are thinking out of impulse and reaction, like most animals do. This thinking out of impulse is known as the "emotional mind" (xin). The martial arts are very much a tool to shape reaction, both mentally and physically. Through diligent practice, and study of the martial virtues one can begin to act from the wisdom mind.

The virtues fall into two categories; morality of action, and morality of mind. Of those that are associated with action, there is:

Humility

Respect

Righteousness

Trust

Loyalty

as well as those which are associated with the mind:

Will

Endurance

Perseverance

Patience

Bravery."

- R. Scott Moylan, Wu De Quan

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thought. With our thoughts, we make our world."

- The Buddha

• Cheerfulness
• Dao De Jing
• Dharmapada Sutra
• Five Precepts
• Friendship
• Gratitude
• Lifestyle Advice
• Patience
• Simplicity
• Spirituality
• Tao Te Ching
• Vision
• Will Power
• Wise Advice