Laozi Quotes

The people starve because those above them eat too much tax-grain. That is the only reason why they starve.

Why do the people think so little of death? Because the rulers demand too much of life. Therefore the people take death lightly.

Take care with the end as you do with the beginning

The mature person perceives the fruitlessness of rigid, external methodologies.

Going forward seems like retreat.

The sage does not act and therefore does not fail, does not seize and therefore does not lose.

The one who can dissolve her mind will suddenly discover the Tao at her feet.

The natural laws of the universe are inviolable... what you say and do determines what happens in your life... You are the master of your life and death. What you do is what you are.

The great image lacks shape.

All things carry yin and embrace yang. They reach harmony by blending with the vital breath.

Deal with difficult tasks while they are easy. Act on large issues while they are small.

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

Mask your brightness. Be at one with the dust of the earth. This is primal union.

Knowing the future is the flower of the Way, and the beginning of folly.

Great accomplishment seems imperfect, Yet it does not outlive its usefulness. Great fullness seems empty, Yet it cannot be exhausted.

What man has more than enough and gives it to the world? Only the man of Tao.

When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. When the sage is put to use, he becomes the head.

The sage does not attempt anything very big, and thus achieves greatness.

The way to use life is to do nothing through acting, The way to use life is to do everything through being.

Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.

There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.

The scholar gains every day; the man of Tao loses every day.

Kindness in thought leads to wisdom. Kindness in speech leads to eloquence. Kindness in action leads to love.

The sage wears coarse clothes, concealing jade.

When the hares have all been caught, the hunting dogs are cooked.

Without going outside, you may know the whole world!

He who prides himself upon wealth and honor hastens his own downfall.

Who can rest until the moment of action?

Happiness perches on misery. Misery crouches beneath happiness.

Attending fully and becoming supple, Can you be as a newborn babe?

A brave and passionate man will kill or be killed. A brave and calm man will always preserve life. Of these two which is good and which is harmful?

Stillness is easy to maintain.

The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail.

The wise man is one who knows what he does not know.

Yielding is the manner of the Way.

The truth often sounds paradoxical.

Even the longest journey must begin where you stand.

The sage governs by emptying senses and filling bellies.

The soft and weak can overcome the hard and strong.

Filling all the way to the brim is not as good as halting in time.

To joy in conquest is to joy in the loss of human life.

Human being's essential nature is perfect and faultless.

Without looking through the window, you can see Heaven's Way.

Without stepping out the door, you can know the world.

In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.

The Way of the Sage is to act but not to compete.

To attain knowledge, add things every day To attain wisdom, remove things every day

Therefore the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death. The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.

The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout.

He who is able to conquer others is powerful; he who is able to conquer himself is more powerful.