Lao Tzu Quotes

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.

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.

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

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

Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here.

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

Manifest plainness, Embrace simplicity, Reduce selfishness, Have few desires.

Stop thinking, and end your problems.

The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.

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

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Watch your step.

The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.

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.

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

Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.

Mastering others is strength. Mastering oneself makes you fearless.

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.

Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.

Because of a great love, one is courageous.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

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.

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

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

Great acts are made up of small deeds.

The heart that gives, gathers.

As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.

If lightning is the anger of the gods, then the gods are concerned mostly about trees.

It is wealth to be content.

The best fighter is never angry.

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

A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth.

If you wish to be out front, then act as if you were behind.

A good traveler leaves no tracks. Good speech lacks fault-finding.

From caring comes courage.

The Way to do is to be.

The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end of your days.

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

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.

The difficult problems in life always start off being simple. Great affairs always start off being small.

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.

Of all that is good, sublimity is supreme. Succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful. Furtherance is the agreement of all that is just. Perseverance is the foundation of all actions.

For the wise man looks into space and he knows there is no limited dimensions.

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

Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.

When a nation is filled with strife, then do patriots flourish.

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

The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'