Lao Tzu Quotes

Because of a great love, one is courageous.

He who talks more is sooner exhausted.

The higher the sun ariseth, the less shadow doth he cast; even so the greater is the goodness, the less doth it covet praise; yet cannot avoid its rewards in honours.

The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.

The people are hungry: It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes.

The career of a sage is of two kinds: He is either honored by all in the world, Like a flower waving its head, Or else he disappears into the silent forest.

The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.

A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.

If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.

To lead people walk behind them.

Ambition has one heel nailed in well, though she stretch her fingers to touch the heavens.

Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The less one knows.

People in their handlings of affairs often fail when they are about to succeed. If one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning, there will be no failure.

He who knows himself is enlightened.

One can not reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others.

Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it.

One who is too insistent on his own views, finds few to agree with him.

To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.

Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere.

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; the Named is the mother of all things.

I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any.

All things in the world come from being. And being comes from non-being.

There was something undifferentiated and yet complete, which existed before Heaven and Earth. Soundless and formless, it depends on nothing and does not change. It operates everywhere and is free from danger. It may be considered the mother of the universe. I do not know its name; I call it Tao.

If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.

Great indeed is the sublimity of the Creative, to which all beings owe their beginning and which permeates all heaven.

Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.

Man takes his 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.

Heaven is long-enduring, and earth continues long. The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves.

If the Great Way perishes there will morality and duty. When cleverness and knowledge arise great lies will flourish. When relatives fall out with one another there will be filial duty and love. When states are in confusion there will be faithful servants.

In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.

It is better to do one’s own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. He who does his duty as his own nature reveals it, never sins.

All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?

He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much.

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.

The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.

He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.

When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.

Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.

Nature is not human hearted.

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.

Silence is a source of great strength.

He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty.

Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.