Lao Tzu Quotes
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He who stands on tiptoe is not steady. He who strides cannot maintain the pace. He who makes a show is not enlightened. He who is self-righteous is not respected. He who boasts achieves nothing. He who brags will not endure. According to followers of the Tao, "These are extra food and unnecessary luggage." They do not bring happiness, therefore followers of the Tao avoid them.
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The sage never strives for greatness, and can therefore accomplish greatness.
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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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In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.
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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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As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.
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The truest sayings are paradoxical.
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In the end, The treasure of life is missed by those who hold on and gained by those who let go.
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The forceful and violent will not die from natural causes.
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To be brave without compassion, generous without moderation, and rule without refraining from being first in the world, are certain deaths.
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The best soldiers are not warlike; the best fighters do not lose their temper. The greatest conquerors are those who overcome their enemies without strife. The greatest directors of men are those who yield place to others. This is called the Virtue of not striving, the capacity for directing mankind; this is being the compeer of Heaven. It was the highest goal of the ancients.
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Heaven and Earth last for ever. Why do Heaven and Earth last for ever? They are unborn, so ever living. The sage stays behind, thus he is ahead. He is detached, thus at one with all. Through selfless action, he attains fulfillment.
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Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return.
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The world is a sacred vessel that cannot be changed. He who changes it will destroy it. He who seizes it will lose it.
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Is not the action of nature like the stretching of a bow? The high, it pulls down; the low, it lifts up; It takes from what is in excess In order to make good of what is deficient. Who can take what they have in excess and offer it to others?
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The way to use life is to do nothing through acting, The way to use life is to do everything through being.
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The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to. It is content with the low places that people disdain. Thus it is like the Tao. In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present. When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
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The man of knowledge acquires something new everyday, and the man of Tao lets go of something new every day.
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Harmony is called the eternal. Knowing the eternal is called clarity.
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Knowing constancy, the mind is open. With an open mind, you will be openhearted. Being openhearted you will act royally. Being royal, you will attain the divine. Being divine, you will be at one with the Tao. Being at one with the Tao is eternal. Though the body dies, the Tao will never pass away.
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The Tao principle is what happens of itself.
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The people starve because those above them eat too much tax-grain. That is the only reason why they starve.
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The wise cares about everyone, and he becomes an example to all.
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Filling all the way to the brim is not as good as halting in time.