Lao Tzu Quotes
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The best leaders are those their people hardly know exist. The next best is a leader who is loved and praised. Next comes the one who is feared. The worst one is the leader that is despised ... The best leaders value their words, and use them sparingly. When they have accomplished their task, the people say, "Amazing! We did it, all by ourselves!
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Without looking through the window, you can see Heaven's Way.
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There is a big misunderstanding about the idea of naturalness. Most people who come to us believing in some freedom or naturalness, but their understanding is what we call [heretical naturalness] ... a kind of "let-alone policy" or sloppiness... For a plant or stone to be natural is no problem. But for us there is some problem, indeed a big problem. To be natural is something we must work on.
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Some lose yet gain, others gain and yet lose.
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Make your heart like a lake, with calm, still surface, and great depths of kindness.
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Stillness overcomes heat.
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Abandon cleverness, discard profit, and thieves and robbers will disappear.
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The supreme rulers are hardly known by their subjects. The lesser are loved and praised. The even lesser are feared. The least are despised.
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Truly, only those who see illness as illness can avoid illness.
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Never take over the world to tamper with it. Those who want to tamper with it are not fit to take over the world.
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Intelligent people know others. Enlightened people know themselves.
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Seeing the small is called Clarity. Keeping flexible is called Strength. Using the shining Radiance, You enter the Light, Where no harm can come to you. This is called Enlightenment.
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The reality of the building does not consist in the roof and walls, but in the space within to be lived in.
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The one who can dissolve her mind will suddenly discover the Tao at her feet.
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The great image lacks shape.
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In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple.
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The most eloquent seems to stutter.
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Have patience. Wait until the mud settles and the water is clear. Remain unmoving until right action arises by itself.
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The master does his job and then stops. He understands that the universe is forever out of control, and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Tao.
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The sage is sharp but does not cut, pointed but does not pierce, forthright but does not offend, bright but does not dazzle.
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Why is the tao so valuable? Because it is everywhere, and everyone can use it. This is why those who seek will find, And those who reform will be forgiven; Why the good will be rewarded, And the thief who is cunning will escape.
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Shape clay into a vessel; It is the space within that makes it useful. Cut doors and windows for a room; It is the holes which make it useful. Therefore benefit comes from what is there; Usefulness from what is not there.
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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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The Tao never acts with force, yet there is nothing that it can not do.