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You are here: Home / Ways / Tools of Taoist Thought: Correlations / Words Correlated in the Introduction

Words Correlated in the Introduction

This list includes all the correlations introduced on the first few pages, plus a few more. Here, they are sorted on the Active nouns and verbs. Such an arbitrary arrangement can produce some cryptic horizontal and circular readings, which can lead you to unexpected insight. Add prepositions occasionally, i.e., with, to, from, on, by, for . . . and so on.

Remember, each word within a column helps define its column mates and visa versa. Here, no word stands alone. Meaning depends on concurrent qualities. You are using all the words sharing a vertical column to define — although sometimes elusively — each other.

Active Active Passive Passive
(nouns & adj.) (verbs)  (antonyms) (antonyms)
abrupt advances GRADUAL RECEDES
analysis argues SYNTHESIS AGREES
angular awakens CIRCULAR SLEEPS
       
answer begins QUESTION ENDS
anxious brightens PATIENT DULLS
arrogant changes HUMBLE REMAINS
       
bold cleans MEEK DIRTIES
chicken competes EGG COOPERATES
child detaches PARENT MERGES
       
commotion divides TRANQUILITY UNITES
complex effects SIMPLE CAUSES
conspicuous emerges SUBTLE RETURNS
       
day ends NIGHT CONTINUES
definite evolves AMBIGUOUS REVOLVES
different excites SAME CALMS
       
discord expands HARMONY CONTRACTS
famous exposes ANONYMOUS CONCEALS
first fills LAST EMPTIES
       
folly floats WISDOM SINKS
future goes PAST STAYS
illusion hardens REALITY SOFTENS
       
life hurries DEATH DAWDLES
male ignores FEMALE NOTICES
modern increases ARCHAIC DECREASES
       
music leads SOUND FOLLOWS
need progresses CONTENTMENT REVERTS
noise promises QUIET DELIVERS
       
obvious pushes MYSTERIOUS PULLS
pain rises PLEASURE SETTLES
part roughens WHOLE SMOOTHS
       
recent scatters ANCIENT GATHERS
secondary separates PRIMARY CONNECTS
shallow shifts DEEP MAINTAINS
       
small stimulates LARGE INHIBITS
something stirs NOTHING STILLS
sound straightens SILENCE CURVES
       
strong takes WEAK GIVES
struggle tells SURRENDER LISTENS
success warms FAILURE COOLS
       
unique wastes COMMON CONSERVES
war wins PEACE LOSES
young works OLD RESTS

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