Laozi Quotes

Excellent leaders of people lower themselves.

If Heaven and Earth are unable to persist, how could man?

Love is the greatest link that we have with those who have temporarily left us.

The more weapons of violence, the more misery to mankind. The triumph of violence ends in a festival of mourning.

It's hard to keep your balance standing tip-toe.

People are difficult to rule, because of their knowledge.

The wise does not think that only he is right -thus he knows the truth.

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

Behave simply and hold on to purity.

What is firmly rooted cannot be pulled out

That which is achieved the most, still has the whole of its future yet to be achieved.

If you really want everything, then give up everything.

Treat the large as the small and the few as the many.

The transformation toward eternal life is gradual. The heavy gross energy of body, mind, and spirit must first be purified and uplifted. When the energy ascends... then self mastery can be sought.

From now back to antiquity, its (Tao's) name has not been lost. Thereby, see the origin of all.

The wise man knows without traveling.

The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly.

Truth sounds paradoxical!

In ancient times, people said that imperfect moves to becoming perfect. Are these words vain? No! Truly, by gaining Unity you come to Perfection!

How can a man's life keep it's course If he will not let it flow, Those who flow as life flows know They need no other force: They feel no wear, they feel no tear, They need no mending, no repair.

Cultivate virtue in the world, and it will be universal.

To conquer others is to have power, to conquer yourself is to know the way.

From What-is all the world of things was born But What-is sprang in turn from What-is-not.

Those who know when it is enough will not perish.

Because he is a living divinity, when he acts, the universe acts.

I find good people good And I find bad people good If I am good enough.

Hold on to the great image, and the whole world follows, follows unharmed, content and completely at peace.

The more sharp weapons people have in a country, the bigger the disorder will be.

The wise man looks back into the past, and does not grieve over what is far off, nor rejoice over what is near; for he knows that time is without end.

When Simplicity is broken up, it is made into instruments. Evolved individuals who employ them, are made into leaders. In this way, the Great System is United.

If princes and kings were not exalted they might be overthrown.

Who has excess and supplies the world? Only the one who follows the Way.

Be content with an ordinary life.

Can you care for the people and rule the country and not be cunning?

Only those who leisurely approach that which the masses are busy about can be busy about that which the masses take leisurely.

Justice has long arm.

Between yea and nay, how much difference is there?

Filling life exceedingly is called ominous.

Things are not worth attending to, yet they have to be attended to.

It is better not to make merit a matter of reward Lest people conspire and contend.

What is well rooted cannot be pulled up. What is firmly grasped will not slip loose. It will be honoured from generation to generation.

The most powerful weapon known is the weapon of blessing. Therefore, a clever person relies on it. He wins with peace, not with war.

Being satisfied with little, you can gain much. Seeking much you will go astray. The wise heeds this precept. If it could be so with all people!

Dualistic thinking is a sickness.

The surest test if a person be sane, is if she accepts life whole, as it is.

Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the various creatures as straw dogs; the sage is ruthless, and treats others as straw dogs.

The wise man knows he doesn't know.

A follower of the Way (Tao) loses something each day. Loss after loss until arriving at Non Action (Wu Wei).

Heaven's net is very vast. It is sparsely meshed, yet nothing slips through.

He who knows, knows not. He who knows not, knows.