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Lao Tsu, also known as Lao Tzu or Laozi, is an ancient Chinese philosopher and sage, and an absolutely central figure in Asiatic culture. He is known as the author of the Tao Te Ching or Daodejing and the founder of Taoism. In traditional China, Taoism is a way of living in harmony with the Tao, "way", "path", or "principle", something that is both the source of, and the force behind, everything that exists. Throughout history, Laozi's work has been embraced by various anti-authoritarian movements, because his style is designed to elicit critical thinking through ambiguousness. We have selected for you 500 of his most profound quotes, to guide you through meditation, and help you approach the Path as you delve into the Old Master's philosophy.

Here are 60 of the greatest poems of all time : the art of three major French authors, Baudelaire, Victor Hugo, Paul Verlaine, translated into English with perfect accuracy and elegance, and carefully selected excerpts of Japanese poetry, for a world-encompassing literary culture and delight.

This collection of audiobooks will help you understand a crucial part of the history of French monarchy. For each King, you will find a detailed description of the style of his reign and his political achievements, narrated in a lively way. Portraits of Henri IV, Louis XI, Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVIII.

A very ancient folk tale, often copied and translated, found in Grimm's compilation of fairy tales. This is a moral tale about a poor shoemaker who receives unexpected help when he thinks he won't be able to make it: elves come into his house and shoulder his work for him.

12 stories from all over the world : Lovely Ilonka, Lucky Luck, The Hairy Man, Little Wildrose, Paperarelloo, The Gifts of the Magician, The Strong Prince, The Crab and the Monkey, The Cottager and his Cat, The Stone-Cutter, How The Wicked Tanuki Was Punished, The Colony of Cats, Clever Maria, The Magic Kettle. The imagery in fairy tales (such as personified animals, adults represented as giants and allegorical magic vegetables) allows the child to explore their fears in remote and symbolic terms. Fairy tales allow the reader to explore each virtue and path of action through the different characters' fates. The child decides their own personal stance after deliberating each consequence. Fairy tales provide answers to what the world is really like and the child's place within it.

The death of Adonis is a fundamental part of Greek mythology and one of its most touching stories. Accidentally wounded by one of Eros' arrows, the goddess Aphrodite desperately falls in love with the handsome Adonis, son of a King and a beauty among mortals. Yet his only passion is hunting, and he refuses to take her warnings seriously when he hears about a great boar he would love to slay. There is something of the idea of coming of age in this tale, when the moment of realisation brings forth the understanding of what could have been and where the real beauty lays. This short story is a retelling of the ancient myth, in great detail and with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

Become familiar with the most important Renaissance philosophers, Michel de Montaigne, Francis Bacon and Machiavelli, the author of The Prince. These figures have shaped Western philosophy; delve deep into their works and thoughts with a selection of the essential quotes introducing their major ideas and delineating the structure of their work with clarity.

These Tales for Tiny Tots are ageless and varied very short stories, aimed at those who are just nascent at reading, to provide them with delight and inch them towards a broader understanding of the world. Each tale contains a wise moral brought forth by colorful imagery: there you will find the Tale of Peter Rabbitt, by Beatrix Potter, Little Red Hen, Dolly Dimple, The visit to Santa Claus Land, and many more read by Katie Haigh.

The brave tin soldier also called "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a tin soldier's love for a paper ballerina. On his birthday, a boy receives a set of 25 toy soldiers all cast from one old tin spoon and arrays them on a table top. One soldier stands on a single leg, as having been the last one cast there was not enough metal to make him whole. Nearby, the soldier spies a paper ballerina with a spangle on her sash. She too is standing on one leg and the soldier falls in love. That night, a goblin among the toys in the form of a Jack-in-the-box angrily warns the soldier to take his eyes off the ballerina, but the soldier ignores him. The next day, the soldier falls from a windowsill (presumably the work of the goblin) and lands in the street. Two boys find the soldier, place him in a paper boat, and set him sailing in the gutter...

The Horla is the chilling tale of one man's descent into madness. Maupassant established a reputation in France as an absolute master of the short story, before himself succumbing to the mental illness that ravaged his later life. This story is the terrifying tale of an invisible vampire, told by a narrator himself on the brink of insanity, and written by a master of the macabre clearly at the peak of his powers. Maupassant's Gothic tales directly influenced those of Ambrose Bierce and H.P. Lovecraft, and remain chillingly unrivaled.

For ages, the ancient myths of Greece and Rome have delighted and inspired the people of the world. Great legendary heroes and mysterious gods come together in those charming stories, which will unleash imagination and all the pleasures we owe the ancient art of storytelling. This timeless selection of the richest legends will make you travel in the time and thoughts of ancient life. Enjoy the stories of Midas; Orpheus; Pandora; Pyramus and Thisbe; Philemon and Baucis; Atalanta; and Cadmus.

Become familiar with the most important ancient philosophers, those who shaped Western philosophy. Delve deep into their works and thoughts with a selection of the essential quotes introducing their major ideas and delineating the structure of their work with clarity.

A very ancient folk tale, often copied and translated, found in Grimm's compilation of fairy tales. This is a moral tale about a poor shoemaker who receives unexpected help when he thinks he won't be able to make it: elves come into his house and shoulder his work for him.

The Fair One with Golden Locks is a fairy tale by Madame d'Aulnoy. It has also been translated under the title "Pretty Goldilocks", which is not to be confused with the Story of the Three Bears. A princess is so beautiful and has such golden hair that she is known as Pretty Goldilocks. A neighboring king falls in love with her from her description and sends his servant to plead his cause. Much to his disappointment, the princess only agrees if a series of near-impossible tasks is completed for her. Luckily for the King, his faithful servant is wiser and more resourceful than he is; the girl will be conquered, but there does not lie the end of the story. This charming fairy tale is read by Katie Haigh.

Become familiar with the most important modern philosophers, Friedrich Nietzsche, Emmanuel Kant, Soren Kierkegaard and Arthur Schopenhauer. These four figures have shaped the entirety of Western philosophy; delve deep into their works and thoughts with a selection of the essential quotes introducing their major ideas and delineating the structure of their work with clarity.

The Art of War, by the Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu, was written in 5th century BC and remains one of the most influential strategy treatises of all time. It was held as the most important military treatise for 1500 years, and has now a pervasive influence on Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, legal strategy and beyond. The ancient wisdom of this ultimate guide to combat strategy is indeed applicable in all areas of life by anyone willing to ensure every kind of victory.

Five famous English historical figures, five controversial characters of almost legendary proportions, that have to be well-known and understood if one is interested in knowing about the English spirit and history. Sir Francis Drake was a sea captain and a privateer of the Elizabethan era; his exploits made him a hero to the English, but his privateering led the Spanish to brand him a pirate. Henry VIII was King in a time of extreme religious unrest, and became such a bloody monster that he was eventually called the "English Nero". Richard III is one of the most divisive and enigmatic figures in British history. His real tragedy was both personal and political; his story, replete with intrigue, murder, war, and treachery. Son of a thug, Thomas Cromwell rose up from the back alleys of rural Putney to be Henry VIII's right hand man, and was destroyed in the moment of his greatest triumph, ending up on the scaffold; he was the mastermind behind Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The King wanted to marry Anne Boleyn, and so used Cromwell to begin the breaking of the Catholic Church's power in England; the divorce was eventually pronounced, Anne married the King, and it all ended with her beheading. Discover the tumultuous and bloody history behind all of these fundamental characters.

The Elixir of Life is a fantastic tale by the French novelist and writer Honoré de Balzac in which he gives a satirical version of the legend of Don Juan. This early short story was originally published in 1830; like all the component pieces of Balzac's Comédie Humaine, it is considered a stand-alone piece of literature. The spoiled son of a Spanish nobleman, Don Juan Belvidero cannot wait for the moment to claim the family wealth and title for himself. His father has him called to his death-bed, to inform him that he is in possession of a magic, death-defying potion. If the son will only rub the liquid on his dead body, the father will come back to life. Don Juan assures his father that he will resurrect him, but will he keep his promise or betray the old man? Honoré de Balzac's keen observation of detail, subtle psychology and unfiltered representation of society gave him his place as one of the founders and great masters of realism in European literature, with his magnum opus, La Comédie Humaine (The Human Comedy). His characters are complex, morally ambiguous and utterly real.

On the death of his father, who was a rich merchant, the son inherited a vast fortune, which he quickly spent. He found himself alone with nothing except the dressing gown on his back and the slippers on his feet. A friend offered him a trunk and advised him to leave. But, this was a special trunk – it could fly! So, the young man decided to go to Turkey, where his dress would not be noticed, but that was just the beginning of his adventure.Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist. Celebrated for children’s literature, his most cherished fairy tales include "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Mermaid", "The Nightingale", "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Snow Queen", "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Little Match Girl". His books have been translated into every living language, and today there is no child or adult that has not met Andersen's whimsical characters. His fairy tales have been adapted to stage and screen countless times, most notably by Disney with the animated films "The Little Mermaid" in 1989 and "Frozen", which is loosely based on "The Snow Queen", in 2013. Thanks to Andersen's contribution to children's literature, his birth date, April 2, is celebrated as International Children's Book Day.

The Cid, an Arab nickname meaning "the Lord", has been called the "most famous Spaniard of all time". Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar was a Castillan military and political leader in medieval Spain. He was an outstanding general, first leading the Spanish against the Moors in victorious battles, then working as a mercenary-general for whoever would require a war won. He eventually captured the city of Valencia, keeping it to himself and ruling it until his death. His remarkable military ability made him the legendary national hero of Spain. He remains an idolized figure in Spain, and his name has been immortalized in every form of story. Rediscover a hero's tale, the story of a central figure in Spanish history; enjoy the legend and gain a better understanding of the political struggles of the time with this lively and precise audiobook.

« The enchanted horse » is a story that belongs to the Thousand and One Nights. "Once upon a time, there lived a Sultan in the land of Persia, who had two beautiful children who grew up to be the Prince and Princess of Persia. One day during a celebration, an Indian approached the Sultan about an enchanted horse he owned that would take the Sultan anywhere he wished in a very short period of time. The Sultan, doubtful about the contraption, sent his son to investigate this horse. When the Prince mounted the horse, he quickly pressed the button that took him high into the air. Wishing to see the country of Bengal because he had never been there, he directed the horse towards that kingdom. He arrived in the dead of the night and landed directly over the Princess of Bengal’s chambers at the palace... ».

Arsene Lupin: one of the most famous and intriguing figures of French detective literature. He was created by Maurice Leblanc, a brilliant journalist, writer and storyteller, and is the hero of a total of 24 books, novels and short stories alike. The fictional gentleman thief is a master of disguise, a criminal genius and a moral figure well-set in righting a few wrongs himself when Justice can't be bothered. It is learned that famous thief Arsène Lupin has made it aboard a ship bound for America. The ship's guests, led by Bernard d'Andrèzy, try to weed out the thief with the information they have on him. Anyone mong the elegant crew could be the criminal, and a woman's necklace just went missing from her own neck... This series of audiobooks recorded by the best storytellers recaptures all the elegance and finesse of the beloved French criminal.

The Goose Girl is a German fairy tale in which a widowed queen sends her daugther to her bridegroom in a faraway land, only accompanied by a waiting maid and a magical talking horse. But the evil maid rebels and forces the princess into trading clothes with her and swearing secrecy, effectively taking her place until they arrive at a foreign palace. There, the princess is made into a common goose girl while the maid is wooed as a princess herself. Bound by secrecy, the real princess seems helpless, unless magical powers come at her aid. This lesser-known tale from the collection of the Brothers Grimm is read by Katie Haigh.

Arsene Lupin: one of the most famous and intriguing figures of French detective literature. He was created by Maurice Leblanc, a brilliant journalist, writer and storyteller, and is the hero of a total of 24 books, novels and short stories alike. The fictional gentleman thief is a master of disguise, a criminal genius and a moral figure well-set in righting a few wrongs himself when Justice can't be bothered. Léontine Zalti was once immensely rich and famous, and the greatest jewelers treated her as a queen. Today, nothing is left of her immense fortune, save for one black pearl, her prize and passion. This is a challenge Arsene Lupin cannot resist. But he's in for a surprise...This series of audiobooks recorded by the best storytellers recaptures all the elegance and finesse of the beloved French criminal.

Sophrology is a body mind method to manage stress efficiently, sleep better and improve quality of life. Sophrology is a very popular method that has been used for over 40 years in Europe, in various places including sleep clinics, hospitals, schools, and much more. Sophrology is a structured method that enables you to reconnect with your inner resources and capacities to improve your health and achieve a greater sense of balance and wellbeing. To create long lasting positive changes in your life, you have to look within yourself. You have the keys to feel better in your body, calmer, more confident, more positive and more grounded. This method was developed by Professor Alfonso Caycedo, a Colombian Neuro-Psychiatrist, in 1960’s along his personal and professional journey. He presented in 1970 at the first International Sophrology Conference as an attempt to study scientifically the human consciousness, both a philosophy and a way of life as well as a therapy and a personal development technique." He later said: "Sophrology is learning to live". Our audio method gives you some informations, advices and exercises to discover and practive sophrology.

A selection of poems and choruses read by T.S. Eliot himself, recorded in 1959.

The Adventures of a Jackal is a classic children's short story : « In a country which is full of wild beasts of all sorts there once lived a jackal and a hedgehog, and, unlike though they were, the two animals made great friends, and were often seen in each other's company. One afternoon they were walking along a road together, when the jackal, who was the taller of the two, exclaimed: 'Oh! there is a barn full of corn; let us go and eat some.' 'Yes, do let us!' answered the hedgehog. So they went to the barn, and ate till they could eat no more. Then the jackal put on his shoes, which he had taken off so as to make no noise, and they returned to the high road. After they had gone some way they met a panther, who stopped, and bowing politely, said: 'Excuse my speaking to you, but I cannot help admiring those shoes of yours. Do you mind telling me who made them?' 'Yes, I think they are rather nice,' answered the jackal; 'I made them myself, though.' 'Could you make me a pair like them?' asked the panther eagerly...

Most people experience at least some anxiety before boarding a plane, but full-fledged panic or anxiety attacks are not uncommon. Do not let these symptoms prevent you from flying or pursuing your career. This audiobook contains relaxation scripts designed to take care of any anxiety before boarding a plane. It is a series of exercices intended to bring the listener to a state of complete relaxation through simple, efficient and proven techniques, so as to prevent panic or anxiety attacks, or relieve the symptoms when the anxiety is there. Listen to this audiobook before boarding a plane and whenever you feel any anxiety associated with flying, and use its exercices to achieve a state of calm and relaxation.

Les Fleurs du mal, in English The Flowers of Evil, is a volume of French poetry by Charles Baudelaire. First published in 1857, it played an essential role in the symbolist and modernist movements. The poems deal with themes relating to decadence and eroticism. Baudelaire dedicated the book to the poet Théophile Gautier, describing him as a parfait magicien des lettres françaises ("a perfect magician of French letters").The author and the publisher were prosecuted under the regime of the Second Empire as an outrage aux bonnes mœurs ("an insult to public decency"). As a consequence of this prosecution, Baudelaire was fined 300 francs. Six poems from the work were suppressed and the ban on their publication was not lifted in France until 1949. These poems were "Lesbos"; " Les "Métamorphoses du Vampire" (or "The Vampire's Metamorphoses"), for example. These were later published in Brussels in a small volume entitled Les Épaves (Scraps or Jetsam). Upon reading "The Swan" (or "Le Cygne") from Les Fleurs du mal, Victor Hugo announced that Baudelaire had created "un nouveau frisson" (a new shudder, a new thrill) in literature. Here is a selection of 49 of the most important and intense poems from this collection, read with precise sensitivity by Paul Edwards.

Two major epic poems came from ancient Greece and had the power to shape our culture for centuries. They are both attributed to the blind poet Homer, and are called Iliad and Odyssey. The Iliad tells the epic story of the war of Troy and its ten-year siege, bloody battles and great heroes. The mighty warrior Achilles, whose mother held him by the heel while immerging him in the river Styx to make him invulnerable, his brave companion Patroclus, kings and gods compete alike for the glory of ancient Greece, which is still resonating today. The Iliad and its sequel, the Odyssey, are the oldest extant works of Western literature. They are of tremendous cultural importance, and their magic is still strongly alive.