Top quotes by Lao Tzu

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. Votes: 39

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. Votes: 38

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Votes: 28

If the Great Way perishes there will morality and duty. When cleverness and knowledge arise great lies will flourish. When relatives fall out with one another there will be filial duty and love. When states are in confusion there will be faithful servants. Votes: 22

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. Votes: 19

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. Votes: 18

Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it. Votes: 17

The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end of your days. Votes: 17

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading. Votes: 16

In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present. Votes: 16

Ambition has one heel nailed in well, though she stretch her fingers to touch the heavens. Votes: 14

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. Votes: 14

When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you. Votes: 14

I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any. Votes: 13

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness. Votes: 13

Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power. Votes: 12

The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, 'We did it ourselves.' Votes: 12

If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve. Votes: 11

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. Votes: 10

In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it. Votes: 10

When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves.' Votes: 9

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe. Votes: 9

There was something undifferentiated and yet complete, which existed before Heaven and Earth. Soundless and formless, it depends on nothing and does not change. It operates everywhere and is free from danger. It may be considered the mother of the universe. I do not know its name; I call it Tao. Votes: 7

Great acts are made up of small deeds. Votes: 7

Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The less one knows. Votes: 6

Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it. Votes: 6

One can not reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others. Votes: 6

It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. He who does his duty as his own nature reveals it, never sins. Votes: 5

Great indeed is the sublimity of the Creative, to which all beings owe their beginning and which permeates all heaven. Votes: 4

Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge. Votes: 3

He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted. Votes: 0

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. Votes: 0

The people are hungry: It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes. Votes: 0

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. Votes: 0

The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own. Votes: 0

Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself. Votes: 0

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Votes: 0

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Votes: 0

Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it. Votes: 0

All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small. Votes: 0

To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect. Votes: 0

Heaven is long-enduring, and earth continues long. The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves. Votes: 0

He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know. Votes: 0

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; the Named is the mother of all things. Votes: 0

Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides. Votes: 0

Of all that is good, sublimity is supreme. Succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful. Furtherance is the agreement of all that is just. Perseverance is the foundation of all actions. Votes: 0

Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses. Votes: 0

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment. Votes: 0

The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be. Votes: 0

For the wise man looks into space and he knows there is no limited dimensions. Votes: 0

The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself. Votes: 0

Silence is a source of great strength. Votes: 0

The career of a sage is of two kinds: He is either honored by all in the world, Like a flower waving its head, Or else he disappears into the silent forest. Votes: 0

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still. Votes: 0

The slaying of multitudes should be mourned with sorrow. A victory should be celebrated with the funeral rite. Votes: 0

Become totally emptyQuiet the restlessness of the mindOnly then will you witness everything unfolding from emptiness Votes: 0

Attain complete emptiness,Hold fast to stillness.Understanding the ordinary: Mind opens.Mind opening leads to compassion,Compassion to nobility,Nobility to heavenliness,Heavenliness to TAO. TAO endures. Your body dies.There is no danger. Votes: 0

A leader is bestWhen people barely know he existsOf a good leader, who talks little,When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,They will say, We did this ourselves. Votes: 0

Love is of all the passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart, and the senses. Votes: 0

The more laws and restrictions there are,The poorer people become.The more rules and regulations,The more thieves and robbers. Votes: 0

And that of (the initiation of) any movement is in its timeliness. Votes: 0

Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good. Votes: 0

LoveEmbracing Tao, you become embraced.Supple, breathing gently, you become reborn.Clearing your vision, you become clear.Nurturing your beloved, you become impartial.Opening your heart, you become accepted.Accepting the World, you embrace Tao.Bearing and nurturing,Creating but not owning,Giving without demanding,Controlling without authority,This is love. Votes: 0

If we could renounce our artful contrivances and discard our (scheming for) gain, there would be no thieves nor robbers. Votes: 0

When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe." Votes: 0

(Those who) possessed in highest degree the attributes (of the Tao) did not (seek) to show them, and therefore they possessed them (in fullest measure)." Votes: 0

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy Votes: 0

Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle ofsoftness overcoming hardness. Votes: 0

El hombre corriente, cuando emprende una cosa, la echa a perder por tener prisa en terminarla. Votes: 0

Failure is an opportunity.If you blame someone else,there is no end to the blame.Therefore the Masterfulfills her own obligationsand corrects her own mistakes.She does what she needs to doand demands nothing of others. Votes: 0

The more laws and restrictions there are,The poorer people become....The more rules and regulations,The more thieves and robbers. Votes: 0

A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live. Votes: 0

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. Votes: 0

Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her. Votes: 0

Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment. Votes: 0

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Votes: 0

The Master, by residing in the Tao,sets an example for all beings.Because he doesn't display himself,people can see his light.Because he has nothing to prove,people can trust his words.Because he doesn't know who he is,people recognize themselves in him.Because he has no goal in mind,everything he does succeeds. Votes: 0

Mastering others is strength. Mastering oneself makes you fearless. Votes: 0

free from desire, you realize the mysterycaught in the desire, you see only the manifestations. Votes: 0

The reason why the universe is eternal is that it does not live for itself; it gives life to others as it transforms. Votes: 0

Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength. Votes: 0

We join spokes together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move.We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness insidethat holds whatever we want.We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner spacethat makes it livable.We work with being, but non-being is what we use. Votes: 0

Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it. Votes: 0

Heaven's net is wide, but its mesh is fine Votes: 0

Because of a great love, one is courageous. Votes: 0

When people see some things as beautiful,other things become ugly.When people see some things as good,other things become bad. Votes: 0

The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth. Votes: 0

To know that you do not know is the best.To think you know when you do not is a disease.Recognizing this disease as a disease is to be free of it. Votes: 0

Klar sieht, wer von ferne sieht, nebelhaft, wer Anteil nimmt. Votes: 0

Knowing others is intelligence;knowing yourself is true wisdom.Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. Votes: 0

If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it. Votes: 0

He who acts, spoils; he who grasps, lets slip. Votes: 0

A good traveler leaves no tracks. Good speech lacks fault-finding. Votes: 0

If lightning is the anger of the gods, then the gods are concerned mostly about trees. Votes: 0

The heart that gives, gathers. Votes: 0

If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness. Votes: 0

If you are untrustworthy, people will not trust you. Votes: 0

In the end,The treasure of life is missed by those who hold on and gained by those who let go. Votes: 0

If a person seems wicked, do not cast him away. Awaken him with your words, elevate him with your deeds, repay his injury with your kindness. Do not cast him away; cast away his wickedness. Votes: 0

The words of truth are always paradoxical. Votes: 0

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. Votes: 0

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained. Votes: 0

An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox. Votes: 0

Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy. Votes: 0

When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder. Votes: 0

The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete. Votes: 0

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Votes: 0

A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar. Votes: 0

Be the chief but never the lord. Votes: 0

One who is too insistent on his own views, finds few to agree with him. Votes: 0

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. Votes: 0

He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty. Votes: 0

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy. Votes: 0

All things in the world come from being. And being comes from non-being. Votes: 0

He who is contented is rich. Votes: 0

The higher the sun ariseth, the less shadow doth he cast; even so the greater is the goodness, the less doth it covet praise; yet cannot avoid its rewards in honours. Votes: 0

How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men? Votes: 0

He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened. Votes: 0

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough. Votes: 0

He who talks more is sooner exhausted. Votes: 0

When a nation is filled with strife, then do patriots flourish. Votes: 0

Nature is not human hearted. Votes: 0

By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning. Votes: 0