Lao Tzu Quotes
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Use the Light that dwells within you to regain your natural clarity of sight.
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Understanding others is knowledge, Understanding oneself is enlightenment; Conquering others is power, Conquering oneself is strength.
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The whole world says that my Way is great like nothing else. It is great because it is like nothing else. If it were like everything else, it would long ago have become insignificant.
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The world is a sacred vessel. It should not be meddled with. It should not be owned. If you try to meddle with it you will ruin it. If you try to own it you will lose it.
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When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. When the sage is put to use, he becomes the head.
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Wear down to be renewed.
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To the good I would be good; to the not-good I would also be good, in order to make them good.
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The (method of) correction shall by a turn become distortion, and the good in it shall by a turn become evil.
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When pure sincerity forms within, it is outwardly realized in other people's hearts.
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Can you gather your vital breath and yet be tender like a newborn baby?
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What is well planted will not be uprooted.
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The sage acts by doing nothing.
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Make your heart like a lake, with calm, still surface, and great depths of kindness.
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The female always surpasses the male with stillness. In her stillness she is yielding.
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Weapons are ominous tools. They are not the noble ruler's tools. He only uses them when he can't avoid it.
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An integral being knows without going, sees without looking, and accomplishes without doing.
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I find good people good And I find bad people good If I am good enough.
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Strong winds do not last all morning, hard rains do not last all day.
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Meet the difficult while it is easy.
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I do not act, and people become reformed by themselves.
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When a country is in harmony with the Tao, the factories make trucks and tractors. When a country goes counter to the Tao, warheads are stockpiled outside the cities. There is no greater illusion than fear, no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself, no greater misfortune than having an enemy. Whoever can see through all fear will always be safe.
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...The sage, traveling all day, Does not lose sight of his baggage. Though there are beautiful things to be seen, He remains unattached and calm.
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Always without desire we must be found, If its deep mystery we would sound; But if desire always within us be, Its outer fringe is all that we shall see.
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Return animosity with virtue.