Lao Tzu Quotes
-
Filling life exceedingly is called ominous.
-
The sage wears clothes of coarse cloth but carries jewels in his bosom; He knows himself but does not display himself; He loves himself but does not hold himself in high esteem.
-
The words of truth are always paradoxical. To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
-
The more sharp weapons people have in a country, the bigger the disorder will be.
-
Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water. Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, none can withstand it, because they have no way to change it. So the flexible overcome the adamant, the yielding overcome the forceful. Everyone knows this, but no one can do it.
-
The best way to live / is to be like water / For water benefits all things / and goes against none of them.
-
Returning to the source is serenity.
-
Though (the Tao) is uncreated itself, it creates all things. Because it has no substance, it can enter into where there is no space. Exercising by returning to itself, winning victories by remaining gentle and yielding, it is softer than anything, and therefore overcomes everything hard.
-
Those who are content suffer no disgrace.
-
First, we must do our own personal work, then we tend the necessary work of our family, then our community, then the world.
-
Heaven's net is very vast. It is sparsely meshed, yet nothing slips through.
-
He who holds balance...has attained the highest post in the world.
-
Favor and disgrace are like fear. Favor is in a higher place, and disgrace in a lower place. When you win them you are like being in fear, and when you lose them you are also like being in fear. So favor and disgrace are like fear.
-
Prepare for the difficult while it is still easy. Deal with the big while it is still small. Difficult undertakings have always started with what easy. Great undertakings always started with what is small. Therefore the sage never strives for the great,And thereby the great is achieved.
-
He who accounts all things easy will have many difficulties.
-
The great Way is all-pervading. It reaches to the left and to the right. All things depend on it with their existence. Still it demands no obedience.
-
The mature person perceives the fruitlessness of rigid, external methodologies.
-
The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be. The more subsidies you have, the less self reliant people will be.
-
When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
-
All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.
-
In the Golden Age, Rulers were unknown. In the following age Rulers were loved and praised. Next came the age When rulers were feared. Finally the age When rulers are hated.
-
The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly.
-
Attain utmost emptiness. Abide in steadfast stillness.
-
To practice virtue is to selflessly offer assistance to others, giving without limitation one's time, abilities, and possessions in service, whenever and wherever needed, without prejudice concerning the identity of those in need.