Quotes By Lao Tzu

From wonder into wonder existence opens.

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

Great acts are made up of small deeds.

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.

To see things in the seed, that is genius.

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

Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.

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.

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

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

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.

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 I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

He who talks more is sooner exhausted.

He who is contented is rich.

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

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

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

He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.

He who knows himself is enlightened.

The words of truth are always paradoxical.

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.

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.

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.