Lao Tzu Quotes
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Eliminate mental muddiness and obscurity; keep your mind crystal clear. Allow your pure original insight to emerge. Quiet your emotions and abide in serenity. Don't go crazy with the worship of idols, images, and ideas; this is like putting a new head on top of the head you already have. Remember: if you can cease all restless activity, your integral nature will appear.
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Return animosity with virtue.
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The sage desires no desire, does not value rare treasures, learns without learning, recovers what people have left behind.
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A good wanderer leaves no trace.
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Deal with the small before it becomes large.
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If Heaven were not clear it might rend. If Earth were not firm it might crumble.
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Can you gather your vital breath and yet be tender like a newborn baby?
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The hard and stiff are death's companions. The soft and weak are life's companions.
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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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The one who does not honor the teacher and the one who does not honor the task, although ever so knowledgeable, they are confused.
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Tao invariably takes no action, and yet there is nothing left undone.
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Those who know do not talk. Those who talk do not know.
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The subtlest of subtleties, this is the gateway to all mysteries.
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To lead people, walk beside them ... As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people honor and praise. The next, the people fear; and the next, the people hate ... When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves!
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The scholar gains every day; the man of Tao loses every day.
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The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.
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Trying to understand is like straining through muddy water. Be still and allow the mud to settle.
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No disaster is worse than being discontented.
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Who can wait in stillness while the mud settles?
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Let people take death seriously, and not travel far.
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A good manager is best when people barely know that he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him.
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He who prides himself upon wealth and honor hastens his own downfall.
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When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one embrace, they can be kept from separating.
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Use the Light that dwells within you to regain your natural clarity of sight.