Lao Tzu Quotes
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Excellent conquerors do not engage.
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So the unwanting soul sees what's hidden, and the ever-wanting soul sees only what it wants.
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Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it.
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The ancient Masters didn't try to educate the people, but kindly taught them to not-know. When they think that they know the answers, people are difficult to guide. When they know that they don't know, people can find their own way. If you want to learn how to govern, avoid being clever or rich. The simplest pattern is the clearest. Content with an ordinary life, you can show all people the way back to their own true nature.
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Geese are white, crows are black. No argument will change this.
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In the highest antiquity, the people did not know that there were rulers. In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them.
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Act without striving. Work without interfering. Find the flavour in what is flavourless.
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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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Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its being what it is.
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Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.
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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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Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.
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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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Because of a great love, one is courageous.
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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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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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The more we give to others, the more we are increased.
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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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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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When the government is quite unobtrusive, people are indeed pure. When the government is quite prying, people are indeed conniving.
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I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any.
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He who steals a hook shall be hanged; while he who steals the state shall be crowned as prince.
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One who lives in accordance with nature does not go against the way of things but moves in harmony with the present moment.
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The highest virtue seems as low as a valley.