Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu

Chinese

Quote

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

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.
Lao Tzu

A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
Lao Tzu

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

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

An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.
Lao Tzu

Be the chief but never the lord.
Lao Tzu

Because of a great love, one is courageous.
Lao Tzu

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

Born to be wild - live to outgrow it.
Lao Tzu

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.
Lao Tzu

Clay is molded to form a cup, But it is on its non-being that the utility of the cup depends. Doors and windows are cut out to make a room, But it is on its non-being that the utility of the room depends. Therefore turn being into advantage, and turn non-being into utility.
Lao Tzu

Darkness within darkness. The gateway to all understanding.
Lao Tzu

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

From wonder into wonder existence opens.
Lao Tzu

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Lao Tzu

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

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

Great acts are made up of small deeds.
Lao Tzu

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

He who knows himself is enlightened.
Lao Tzu

He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.
Lao Tzu

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

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

He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much.
Lao Tzu

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.
Lao Tzu

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

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.
Lao Tzu

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

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.
Lao Tzu

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.
Lao Tzu

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.
Lao Tzu

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.
Lao Tzu

It is the Vague and Elusive. Meet it and you will not see its head. Follow it and you will not see its back.
Lao Tzu

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

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
Lao Tzu

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.
Lao Tzu

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

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.
Lao Tzu

Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.
Lao Tzu

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

Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.
Lao Tzu

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.
Lao Tzu

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
Lao Tzu

Nature is not human hearted.
Lao Tzu

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.
Lao Tzu

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.
Lao Tzu

Silence is a source of great strength.
Lao Tzu

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

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.
Lao Tzu

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.
Lao Tzu

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Lao Tzu

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

The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.
Lao Tzu

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

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

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.
Lao Tzu

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

The supreme excellence is not to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles. The supreme excellence is to subdue the armies of your enemies without even having to fight them.
Lao Tzu

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.'
Lao Tzu

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

The words of truth are always paradoxical.
Lao Tzu

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

To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.
Lao Tzu

To lead people walk behind them.
Lao Tzu

To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.
Lao Tzu

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

To see things in the seed, that is genius.
Lao Tzu

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
Lao Tzu

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.
Lao Tzu

Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.
Lao Tzu

When a nation is filled with strife, then do patriots flourish.
Lao Tzu

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

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.
Lao Tzu

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