Lao Tzu Quotes
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He (the sage) is good to those who are good. He is also good to those who are not good. That is the virtue of good.
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Act without doing; work without effort. Think of the small as large and the few as many. Confront the difficult while it is still easy; accomplish the great task by a series of small acts. The Master never reaches for the great; thus she achieves greatness. When she runs into a difficulty, she stops and gives herself to it. She doesn't cling to her own comfort; thus problems are no problem for her.
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Knowing that we don't know it's humility; thinking that we know what we don't know, is sickness.
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Battles are followed by years of famine.
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The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. Through this I know the advantage of taking no action.
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The leader's main job is to make themselves obsolete.
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I find good people good And I find bad people good If I am good enough.
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In order to contract, It is necessary first to expand. In order to weaken, It is necessary first to strengthen. In order to destroy, It is first necessary to promote. In order to grasp, It is necessary first to give. This is called subtle light. The weak and the tender overcome the hard and the strong.
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True words are not pleasing. Pleasing words are not true.
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Let muddy water stand and it will become clear.
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Greed is costly. Assembled fortunes are lost.
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We desire to understand the world by giving names to the things we see, but these things are only the effects of something subtle.
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The more laws and orders are multiplied, the more theft and violence increase.
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What has no substance can penetrate what has no opening.
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The True Person benefits yet expects no reward, does the work and moves on. There is no desire to be considered better than others.
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To know people is wisdom, but to know yourself is enlightenment. to master people takes force, but to master yourself takes strength. to know contentment is wealth, and to live with strength resolve. to never leave whatever you are is to abide, and to die without getting lost- that is to live on and on.
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Cultivate virtue in yourself, and it will be true.
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A follower of the Way (Tao) loses something each day. Loss after loss until arriving at Non Action (Wu Wei).
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The Tao of the sage is work without effort.
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I alone have the mind of a fool, and am all muddled and vague. The people are so smart and bright. While I am just dull and confused.
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Loss is not as bad as wanting more.
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The first practice is the practice of undiscriminating virtue: take care of those who are deserving; also, and equally, take care of those who are not. When you extend your virtue in all directions without discriminating, you feet are firmly planted on the path that returns to the Tao.
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You cannot receive what you don't give. Outflow determines inflow.
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There is no greater offence than harbouring desires. There is no greater disaster than discontent. There is no greater misfortune than wanting more.