Lao Tzu Quotes
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The best form of leadership is to be conscious of the leadership potential with the followers and to let them unleash this potential in a spontaneous way. When a great leader accomplishes this task with effortless ease, the followers say, "We did it ourselves."
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Watch your thoughts, they become words.
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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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Therefore the Sage, wishing to be above the people, must by his words put himself below them; wishing to be before the people, he must put himself behind them. In this way, though he has his place above them, the people do not feel his weight; though he has his place before them, they do not feel it as an injury. Therefore all mankind delight to exalt him, and weary of him not.
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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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Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habit.
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Let people take death seriously, and not travel far.
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When you accurately perceive the fluidity of things, you can also begin to perceive the constancy behind them: the creative, transformative, boundless, immutable Tao.
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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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Who can wait in stillness while the mud settles?
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He does not feel pity for himself - thus he can successfully develop.
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When two opposing sides meet in battle, the one without an enemy will be victorious.
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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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The generals have a saying: "Rather than make the first move it is better to wait and see. Rather than advance an inch it is better to retreat a yard." This is called going forward without advancing, pushing back without using weapons. There is no greater misfortune than underestimating your enemy. Underestimating your enemy means thinking that he is evil. Thus you destroy your three treasures and become an enemy yourself. When two great forces oppose each other, the victory will go to the one that knows how to yield.
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The more you know the less you understand.
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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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(The Tao) is always present and always available. . . . If you are willing to be lived by it, you will see it everywhere, even in the most ordinary things.
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As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.
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Some have lavish garments, carry sharp swords, and feast on food and drink. They possess more than they can spend. This is called the vanity of robbers. It is certainly not the Way.
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If princes and kings could follow it (Tao), all things would by themselves abide, Heaven and Earth would unite and sweet dew would fall. People would by themselves find harmony, without being commanded.
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The highest benevolence acts without purpose.
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Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. Those who are skilled (in the Tao) do not dispute (about it); the disputatious are not skilled in it. Those who know (the Tao) are not extensively learned; the extensively learned do not know it.
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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 value comes from what is there, but the use comes from what is not there.