Lao Tzu Quotes
-
To know how little one knows is to have genuine knowledge. Not to know how little one knows is to be deluded. Only those who know when they are deluded can free themselves from such delusion. The intelligent people are not deluded, because they know and accept their ignorance as ignorance, and thereby have genuine knowledge.
-
Act without expectation.
-
Do you imagine the universe is agitated? Go into the desert at night and look out at the stars. This practice should answer the question..... The master settles her mind as the universe settles the stars in the sky. By connecting her mind with the subtle origin, she calms it. Once calmed, it naturally expands, and ultimately her mind becomes as vast and immeasurable as the night sky.
-
When family ties are disturbed, devoted children arise.
-
By compassion one can be brave.
-
Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here.
-
Because he is a living divinity, when he acts, the universe acts.
-
There is something obscure which is complete before heaven and earth arose; tranquil, quiet, standing alone without change, moving without peril. It could be the mother of everything. Not knowing its name, I call it Tao.
-
Throw away holiness and wisdom, and people will be a hundred times happier. Throw away morality and justice, and people will do the right thing. Throw away industry and profit, and there won't be any thieves. If these three aren't enough, just stay at the center of the circle and let all things take their course.
-
Much knowledge will corrupt the heart,/When partly understood,/And so the people grow too smart,/But neither wise nor good.
-
One who believes in himself has no need to convince others.
-
Every step is on the path.
-
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.
-
The wise are not learned, the learned are not wise.
-
In ancient times, people said that imperfect moves to becoming perfect. Are these words vain? No! Truly, by gaining Unity you come to Perfection!
-
All things of the world are born of being; being is born of nonbeing.
-
Allow your softer, more intuitive, and less dominating feminine qualities to rise to the fore, so that you're surrendering rather than dominating, receiving rather than broadcasting, loving rather than fighting.
-
Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.
-
First and last follow each other.
-
In ancient times, those who followed the Way did not try to give people knowledge thereof, but kept them ignorant.
-
Whatever is flexible and living will tend to grow; whatever is rigid and blocked will wither and die.
-
Do nondoing, strive for non-stiving, savor the flavourless, make much of little, repay enmity with virture; plan for difficulty when it is still easy, do the great while it is still small.
-
The sage is one with the world, and lives in harmony with it.
-
I do not know its name. I call it the Way. For the lack of better words I call it great.