Lao Tzu Quotes
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Mold clay into a bowl. The empty space makes it useful.
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The wise man looks back into the past, and does not grieve over what is far off, nor rejoice over what is near; for he knows that time is without end.
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In this world, there is nothing softer or thinner than water. But to compel the hard and unyielding, it has no equal. That the weak overcomes the strong, that the hard gives way to the gentle - this everyone knows. Yet no one asks accordingly.
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He who accounts all things easy will have many difficulties.
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Attain utmost emptiness. Abide in steadfast stillness.
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There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontent. And there is no greater disaster than greed.
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All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.
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Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.
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Abandon benevolence, discard duty, and people will return to the family ties.
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The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly.
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He who knows others is clever; He who knows himself has discernment.
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The heavy is the root of the light. The unmoved is the source of all movement. Thus the Master travels all day without leaving home. However splendid the views, she stays serenely in herself. Why should the lord of the country flit about like a fool? If you let yourself be blown to and fro, you lose touch with your root. If you let restlessness move you, you lose touch with who you are.
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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.
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Surrender your self-interest. Love others as much as you love yourself. Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven.
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Therefore, if a great kingdom humbles itself before a small kingdom, it shall make that small kingdom its prize. And if a small kingdom humbles itself before a great kingdom, it shall win over that great kingdom. Thus the one humbles itself in order to attain, the other attains because it is humble. If the great kingdom has no further desire than to bring men together and to nourish them, the small kingdom will have no further desire than to enter the service of the other. But in order that both may have their desire, the great one must learn humility.
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In order to eliminate the negative influences, simply ignore them.
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When everyone sees good, then bad exists.
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To retreat after a work well done is Heaven's Way.
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Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.
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When the highest type of people hear Tao (Truth), they diligently practice it. When the average type of people hear Tao, they half believe in it. When the lowest type of people hear Tao, they laugh at it. If they did not laugh, it would not be Tao.
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When the hares have all been caught, the hunting dogs are cooked.
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Do nondoing, strive for nonstriving, savor the flavorless, regard the small as important, make much of little, repay enmity with virtue; plan for difficulty when it is still easy, do the great while it is still small. The most difficult things in the world must be done while they are easy; the greatest things in the world must be done while they are small.
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The wise man does not lay up treasure. The more he expends on others, the more he gains for himself. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.
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The wise man puts himself last and finds himself first.