Laozi Quotes

These possessions of a simpleton being the three I choose and cherish: to care, to be fair, to be humble.

Wise travelers always stop short before they come to danger.

Since before time and space were, the Tao is. It is beyond is and is not.

Good men are bad men's instructors, And bad men are good men's materials.

Abandon learning and there will be no sorrow.

Practice non-action. Work without doing.

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 honors.

Other people are joyous, like on the feast of the ox, like on the way up to the terrace in the spring. I alone am inert, giving no sign, like a newborn baby who has not learned to smile.

When the Way is lost there is virtue. When virtue is lost there is benevolence. When benevolence is lost there is righteousness. When righteousness is lost there are rituals.

The Way of Heaven does not complete, and yet it skillfully achieves victory. It does not speak, and yet it skillfully responds to things. It comes to you without your invitation.

Thus it is that "Some things are increased by being diminished, others are diminished by being increased." What others have taught, I also teach; verily, I will make it the root of my teaching.

Gentleness brings victory to him who attacks, and safety to him who defends. Those whom Heaven would save, it fences round with gentleness.

One's own self or material goods, which has more worth? Loss (of self) or possession (of goods), which is the greater evil? He who loves most, spends most, He who hoards much loses much

Those who stand on their toes are not steady.

When cleverness emerges There is great hypocrisy.

The Way that can be walked is not the eternal Way.

Seal the openings, shut the doors, dull the sharpness, untie the knots, dim the light, become one with the dust. This is called the profound union.

The Way is empty, yet inexhaustible, like an abyss!

Not knowing of the eternal leads to unfortunate errors.

What's the difference between beautiful and ugly?

Meet the big while it is small.

Because he (the Sage) demands no honor, he will never be dishonored.

The highest truth cannot be put into words.

Through return to simple living comes control of desires. In control of desires stillness is attained. In stillness the world is restored.

It is wisdom to know others. It is enlightenment to know oneself.

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

The reason for great distress is the body. Without it, what distress could there be?

When the government is quite unobtrusive, people are indeed pure. When the government is quite prying, people are indeed conniving.

The Tao of the sage is work without effort.

Correct becomes defect. Good becomes ominous. People's delusions have certainly lasted long.

Knowing ignorance is strength; ignoring knowledge is sickness.

He who knows others is clever; He who knows himself has discernment.

The grandest virtue seems deficient.

If you want to accord with the Tao, just do your job, then let go.

Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear.

Because of deep love, one is courageous. Because of frugality, one is generous. Because of not daring to be ahead of the world, one becomes the leader of the world.

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

We join spokes together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move.

The world is a sacred vessel. It should not be meddled with. It should not be owned. If you try to meddle with it you will ruin it. If you try to own it you will lose it

To the good I would be good; to the not-good I would also be good, in order to make them good.

To be worn out is to be renewed.

Returning to the source is serenity.

Heaven is eternal and Earth everlasting. They can be eternal and everlasting because they do not exist for themselves, And for this reason can exist forever.

The Tao that can be spoken is not the true Tao.

A journey of a thousand leagues begins beneath one's feet.

Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish - don't overdo it.

Why are the people rebellious? Because the rulers interfere too much. Therefore they are rebellious.

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

He who possess virtue in abundance may be compared to an infant.

The Tao is like a well; used but never used up.