Lao Tzu Quotes
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He who walks on tip-toe does not walk on solid ground.
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Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking. Center your country in the Tao and evil will have no power. Not that it isn't there, but you'll be able to step out of its way. Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.
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Observe how endings become beginnings.
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Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness.
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Because of a great love, one is courageous.
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When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad. Being and non-being create each other. Difficult and easy support each other. Long and short define each other. High and low depend on each other. Before and after follow each other. Therefore the Master acts without doing anything and teaches without saying anything. Things arise and she lets them come; things disappear and she lets them go. She has but doesn't possess, acts but doesn't expect. When her work is done, she forgets it. That is why it lasts forever.
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If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.
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The Way to Heaven has no favorites. It is always with the good man.
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Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.
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Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.
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The highest virtue seems as low as a valley.
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Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.
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Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
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Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it.
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Can you comprehend everything in the four directions and still do nothing?
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People are hard to govern. The rulers interfere with too much. That is why people are hard to govern.
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When the government is quite unobtrusive, people are indeed pure. When the government is quite prying, people are indeed conniving.
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Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.
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Those who are unswerving have resolve.
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See others as yourself. See families as your family. See towns as your town. See countries as your country. See worlds as your world.
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Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish - don't overdo it.
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All things in the world come from being. And being comes from non-being.
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Words spoken about the Way have no taste. When looked at, there's not enough to see. When listened to, there's not enough to hear. When used, it is never exhausted.
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Keeping plenty of gold and jade in the palace makes no one able to defend it.