Lao Tzu Quotes
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Meet the big while it is small.
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Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it. The soft overcomes the hard; the gentle overcomes the rigid. Everyone knows this is true, but few can put it into practice. Therefore the Master remains serene in the midst of sorrow. Evil cannot enter his heart. Because he has given up helping, he is people's greatest help. True words seem paradoxical.
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Simplicity has no name is free of desires. Being free of desires it is tranquil. And the world will be at peace of it's own accord.
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Meandering leads to perfection.
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To be learned, add something each day. To be enlightened drop something each day.
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The group will not prosper if the leader grabs the lion's share of the credit for the good work that has been done.
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The sage does not strive to be great. Thereby he can accomplish the great.
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Although there are weapons for tens and hundreds of soldiers, they will not be used.
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Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
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Be as the still mountain; Move like the great river.
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He who knows enough is enough will always have enough.
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As it acts in the world, the Tao is like the bending of a bow. The top is bent downward; the bottom is bent up. It adjusts excess and deficiency so that there is perfect balance.
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Appetite for food and sex is nature.
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Therefore: In dwelling, choose modest quarters, in thinking, value stillness, in dealing with others, be kind, in choosing words, be sincere, in leading, be just, in working, be competent, in acting, choose the correct timing. Follow these words and there will be no error.
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If you want to be given everything, give everything up.
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Other people have more than they need, I alone seem wanting.
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The difficult problems in life always start off being simple. Great affairs always start off being small.
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Understand this if nothing else: spiritual freedom and oneness with the Tao are not randomly bestowed gifts, but the rewards of conscious self-transformation and self-evolution.
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A good traveler leaves no tracks. Good speech lacks fault-finding.
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By moderation one can be generous.
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Going back to the origin is called peace; it means reversion to destiny. Reversion to destiny is called eternity. Those who know eternity are called enlightened.
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If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.
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People turn their eyes and ears to him (the sage), and the sage cares for them like his own children.
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Much knowledge will corrupt the heart,/When partly understood,/And so the people grow too smart,/But neither wise nor good.