Laozi Quotes

The Way of Tao is this: It strives not, but conquers; It speaks not, but all is made clear; It summons not, but its house is crowded; It contrives not, but the design is perfect.

Throw away sacredness and wisdom and people will be one hundred times happier.

Who is there who can make muddy waters clear? But if allowed to remain still, it will gradually clear itself.

A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step - Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others.

Praise and disgrace cause fear.

The world may be known Without leaving the house.

The further one goes, the less (he realizes he) one knows.

. . . the integral being is attached to nothing and can relate to everyone with an unstructured attitude. Because of this, her very existence benefits all things.

I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct.

He does not seek glory - yet people respect him.

Sages do not accumulate for themselves. The more they give to others, the more they possess of their own. The way of Heaven is to benefit others and not to injure.

Do not fear the aging of the body for it is the body's way of seeking the root.

Nature does not have to insist.

I alone am different from the others, because I am nourished by the great mother.

Cultivate virtue in yourself, and it will be true.

To retreat after a work well done is Heaven's Way.

A good speaker does not stutter.

He does not seek power - yet people follow him.

The sage's Way is to act and not to contend.

The small is easy to scatter.

When leading people and serving Heaven, nothing exceeds moderation.

Keeping plenty of gold and jade in the palace makes no one able to defend it.

Searching for precious goods leads astray.

People starve. The rulers consume too much with their taxes. That is why people starve.

The Way is the source of all things, good people's treasure and bad people's refuge.

Heaven's Way gives no favors. It always remains with good people.

When his (the good ruler's) task is accomplished and his work done, The people all say, "It happened to us naturally.

True humility involves opposites. The truly humble work in silence. Because they do not speak of their accomplishments, credit for them can never be taken away.

A journey of a thousand miles starts in front of your feet. A tower nine stories high is built from a small heap of earth. A journey of a thousand miles starts in front of your feet.

To attain to the human form must always be a source of joy. And then to undergo continuous transitions, with only the infinite to look forward to: what incomparable bliss is that!

What is strong and rigid is snapped and laid low. What is flexible and soft will always prevail.

The living are soft and yielding; the dead are rigid and stiff. Living plants are flexible and tender; the dead are brittle and dry.

He who knows he has enough is rich.

Although he travels all day, the sage never loses sight of his luggage carts.

Seal the openings, shut the doors, and until your last day you will not be exhausted. Widen the openings, interfere, and until your last day you will not be safe.

A good counter needs no calculator.

Being a model to the world, eternal virtue will never falter in you, and you return to the boundless.

Those who are unswerving have resolve

The rigid tree will be felled.

When the sage stands above people, they are not oppressed. When he leads people, they are not obstructed. The world will exalt him and not grow tired of him.

The supreme rulers are hardly known by their subjects. The lesser are loved and praised. The even lesser are feared. The least are despised.

There is nothing softer and weaker than water, and yet there is nothing better for attacking hard and strong things.

If your virtue is especially radiant, it can be possible to open a pathway to the subtle realm and receive these celestial teachings directly from the immortals.

There is no greater mistake than to make light of an enemy By making light of an enemy many a kingdom has been lost.

He who holds balance...has attained the highest post in the world.

To know others is to have knowledge. To know yourself is to be enlightened.

I do not know its name. I call it the Way. For the lack of better words I call it great.

The sage embraces the one, and is an example to the world.

All things flourish, and each returns to its source.

What the Way is to the world, the stream is to the river and the sea.