Lao Tzu Quotes
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Those who praise themselves do not prevail.
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The sage honors his part of the settlement, but does not exact his due from others.
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If you correct your mind the rest of your life will fall into place.
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When the great Tao is forgotten, goodness and piety appear. When the body's intelligence declines, cleverness and knowledge step forth. When there is no peace in the family, filial piety begins. When the country falls into chaos, patriotism is born.
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It is the child that sees the primordial secret in Nature and it is the child of ourselves we return to. The child within us is simple and daring enough to live the Secret.
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Do not make them (people) weary at their work. If you do not make them weary, they will not be weary of you.
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All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power. If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. If you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them. The Master is above the people, and no one feels oppressed. She goes ahead of the people, and no one feels manipulated. The whole world is grateful to her. Because she competes with no one, no one can compete with her.
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If you close your mind in judgements and traffic with desires, your heart will be troubled. If you keep your mind from judging and aren't led by the senses, your heart will find peace.
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All things carry yin and embrace yang. They reach harmony by blending with the vital breath.
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If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand. If you want to get rid of something, you must first allow it to flourish. If you want to take something, you must first allow it to be given. This is called the subtler perception of the way things are. The soft overcomes the hard. The slow overcomes the fast. Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results.
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That, which others compress - will widen up and open. That, which others weaken - will strengthen. That, which others destroy - will blossom. Whoever wished to take something from the other, will inevitably loose his own.
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The wise man is one who knows what he does not know.
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The value of teaching without words and accomplishing without action is understood by few in the world.
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Not valuing wealth prevents theft.
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Water benefits the ten thousand things and does not oppose them.
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Those who take long steps cannot keep the pace.
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There was something that finished chaos, born before Heaven and Earth.
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To conquer others is to have power, to conquer yourself is to know the way.
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The weak overcomes the strong. The soft overcomes the hard. Everybody in the world knows this, still nobody makes use of it.
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Tao loves and nourishes all things, but does not dominate it over them.
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The sage never strives for greatness, and can therefore accomplish greatness.
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The eternal void is filled with infinite possibilities.
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When people do not dread authorities, then a greater dread descends.
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The man of knowledge acquires something new everyday, and the man of Tao lets go of something new every day.