Lao Tzu Quotes
-
Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil.
-
(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.
-
Other people are joyous, like on the feast of the ox, like on the way up to the terrace in the spring. I alone am inert, giving no sign, like a newborn baby who has not learned to smile.
-
The Master's power is like this. He lets all things come and go effortlessly, without desire. He never expects results; thus he is never disappointed. He is never disappointed; thus his spirit never grows old.
-
The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. Through this I know the advantage of taking no action.
-
Pounding an edge to sharpness will not make it last.
-
Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.
-
The leader's main job is to make themselves obsolete.
-
By steadily disciplining the animal nature, until it becomes one pointed, it is possible to establish conscious awareness of The Eternal.
-
The more laws and orders are multiplied, the more theft and violence increase.
-
Loss is not as bad as wanting more.
-
Do not fear the aging of the body for it is the body's way of seeking the root.
-
Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame. Therefore the Master fulfills her own obligations and corrects her own mistakes. She does what she needs to do and demands nothing of others.
-
When wisdom and knowledge appear, great pretense arises.
-
Its name-what passes not away.
-
The value of actions lies in their timing.
-
Correct becomes defect. Good becomes ominous. People's delusions have certainly lasted long.
-
Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.
-
I have three treasures which I hold and keep. The first is mercy; the second is economy. The third is daring not to be ahead of others. From mercy comes courage; from economy comes generosity; From humility comes leadership.
-
Those who praise victory relish manslaughter. Those who relish manslaughter cannot reach their goals in the world.
-
You cannot receive what you don't give. Outflow determines inflow.
-
There is no greater offence than harbouring desires. There is no greater disaster than discontent. There is no greater misfortune than wanting more.
-
Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations. These two spring from the same source but differ in name; this appears as darkness. Darkness within darkness. The gate to all mystery.
-
You will understand a great truth when you get to realize that what you do to others, you are doing to yourself.