150 Inspiring Quotes by Laozi (Lao Tzu)

The truest sayings are paradoxical.

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

Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe.

Some lose yet gain, others gain and yet lose.

Two names emerge from a single origin and both are called mysterious.

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

From wonder into wonder existence opens.

The hard and mighty lie beneath the ground
While the tender and weak dance on the breeze above.

So the unwanting soul
sees what's hidden,
and the ever-wanting soul
sees only what it wants.

Know that you don't know. That is superior.

The great Tao is universal like a flood… All creatures depend on it, and it denies nothing to anyone. It does its work, but it makes no claims for itself. It clothes and feeds all, but it does not lord it over them.

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

Stillness and tranquility set things in order in the universe.

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

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

If you are untrustworthy, people will not trust you.

The best of all leaders is the one who helps people so that eventually they don't need him.

He who defends with love will be secure; Heaven will save him, and protect him with love.

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.

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

Simple in actions and in thoughts, you return to the source of being..

If you show yourself, you will not be seen. If you affirm yourself, you will not shine.

To speak little is natural. Therefore a gale does not blow a whole morning nor does a downpour last a whole day.

Knowing how to yield is strength.

He who defines himself can't know who he really is.
He who has power over others can't empower himself.

Without desire there is stillness, and the world settles by itself.

To a mind that is still the whole universe surrenders.

Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.

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

He who is contented is rich.

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

Any good person who is motivated to attain awareness of the whole truth should follow the Universal Way to calm his mind and harmonize it with all aspects of life.

The best fighter is never angry.

If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.

There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.

My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence. --General Montgomery.

Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.

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

To see things in the seed, that is genius.

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

Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.

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

If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled.

People in their handlings of affairs often fail when they are about to succeed. If one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning, there will be no failure.

When nothing is done,
nothing is left undone.

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

Freedom from desire leads to inner peace.

Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

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.

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

If the teacher is not respected and the student not cared for, confusion will arise, however clever one is.

Time is a created thing. To say "I don't have time", is like saying, "I don't want to."

As long as we have hope, we have direction, the energy to move, and the map to move by.

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.

To know when you have enough is to be rich beyond measure.

All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power.

When I let go of who I am, I become who I might be.

To lead people walk behind them.

With no desire, at rest and still, all things go right as of their will.

The world is ruled by letting things take their course.

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

The way to do is to be.

The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

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.

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.

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

Those who have weak faith themselves cannot arouse faith in others.

There is
a time to live
and a time to die
but never to reject the moment.

He who talks more is sooner exhausted.

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

Do you imagine the universe is agitated? Go into the desert at night and look at the stars. This practice should answer the question.

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

The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.

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.

When armies are mobilized and issues joined, the man who is sorry over the fact will win.

Have patience. Wait until the mud settles and the water is clear. Remain unmoving until right action arises by itself.

Тhe gentle overcomes the rigid.
The slow overcomes the fast.
The weak overcomes the strong."
…
"Everyone knows that the yielding overcomes the stiff,
and the soft overcomes the hard.
Yet no one applies this knowledge.

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.

The Way to do is to be.

By letting go it all gets done.

Stop thinking, and end your problems.

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

It is not wise to rush about. If too much energy is used, exhaustion follows. This is not the way of Tao.

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.

Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.

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.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage.

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

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

To live till you die
Is to live long enough.

A good traveller leaves no tracks.

Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.

Because of a great love, one is courageous.

To know and to think we know not, is the crown. Not to know and to think we know, is the affliction.

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.

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.

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

The soft overcomes the hard. The slow overcomes the fast.

Highly evolved people have their own conscience as pure law.

We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.

The world belongs to those who let go.

Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.

To hold, you must first open your hand. Let go.

Great acts are made up of small deeds.

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

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

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

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.

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

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.

Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things.

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

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

Love is a decision -- not an emotion!

Guard the senses and life is ever full...always be busy and life is beyond hope.

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.

A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.

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.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

If you want to awaken all of humanity, awaken all of yourself.

He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty.

The greatest conqueror wins without struggle.

From caring comes courage.

To lead the people, walk behind them.

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.'

He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.

Nature is not human hearted.

If you want to govern the people,
You must place yourself below them.
If you want to lead people,
You must learn how to follow them.

If you want to know me, look inside your heart.

Every step is on the path.

Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here.