Lao Tzu Quotes
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When the worst student hears about the Way, he laughs out loud. If he did not laugh, it would be unworthy of being the Way.
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Those who praise victory relish manslaughter. Those who relish manslaughter cannot reach their goals in the world.
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The one who rules like the mother lasts long.
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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.
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Fame of self: Which matters more? Self or wealth: Which is more precious? Gain or loss: Which is more painful?
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Health is the greatest possession.
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Pride attaches undue importance to the superiority of one's status in the eyes of others; and shame is fear of humiliation at one's inferior status in the estimation of others. When one sets one's heart on being highly esteemed, and achieves such rating, then he or she is automatically involved in fear of losing status.
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A violent wind does not last for a whole morning.
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To know that you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease.
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Knowledge of the eternal is all-embracing. To be all-embracing leads to righteousness, which is majestic.
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Those who know when to halt are unharmed.
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It is wisdom to know others. It is enlightenment to know oneself.
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Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail.
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A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants.
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The sage has no concern for himself, but makes the concerns of others his own.
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The one who does not stray away from her/his nature will live long.
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Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course? Can you step back from you own mind and thus understand all things? Giving birth and nourishing, having without possessing, acting with no expectations, leading and not trying to control: this is the supreme virtue.
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If people live in constant fear of death, and if breaking the law is punished by death, then who would dare?
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Learn from the people. Plan with the people. Begin with what they have. Build on what they know.
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Do not attempt to conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance.
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Most of the world's religions serve only to strengthen attachments to false concepts such as self and other, life and death, heaven and earth, and so on. Those who become entangled in these false ideas are prevented from perceiving the Integral Oneness.
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For knowledge, add something every day. For wisdom....subtract.
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In dwelling, be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart. In dealing with others, be gentle and kind. In speech, be true. In ruling, be just. In daily life, be competent. In action, be aware of the time and the season.
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Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short and long, life and death? Can you let go of all these dualities and embrace the Tao without skepticism or panic? If so, you can reach the heart of the Integral Oneness.