Laozi Quotes

From wonder into wonder existence opens.

If you would take, you must first give.

Nature's way is simple and easy, but men prefer the intricate and artificial.

Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. The way of nature is unchanging. Knowing constancy is insight.

If you close your mind in judgements and traffic with desires, your heart will be troubled. If you keep your mind from judging and aren't led by the senses, your heart will find peace.

Only I am clumsy, like drifting on the waves of the sea, without direction.

To bear and not to own; to act and not lay claim; to do the work and let it go: for just letting it go is what makes it stay.

The more clever and cunning people are, the stranger the events will be.

Those who take long steps cannot keep the pace.

What has not yet emerged is easy to prevent.

The highest virtue is not virtuous. Therefore it has virtue. The lowest virtue holds on to virtue. Therefore it has no virtue.

The highest virtue does nothing. Yet, nothing needs to be done. The lowest virtue does everything. Yet, much remains to be done.

The Wise Man is square but not sharp, honest but not not malign, straight but not severe, bright but not dazzling.

Only fools seek power, and the greatest fools seek it through force.

Lessen selfishness and restrain desires.

Speaking with kindness creates confidence, thinking with kindness creates profoundness, giving with kindness creates love.

Follow diligently the Way in your own heart, but make no display of it to the world.

Those who praise themselves do not prevail.

I do not interfere, and people become rich by themselves.

Seek not happiness too greedily and be not fearful of happiness.

Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.

The wise man does not lay up treasure. The more he expends on others, the more he gains for himself. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.

Goodness strives not, and therefore it is not rebuked.

Excellent warriors are not violent.

Those who are self-righteous are not prominent.

Peace and quiet govern the world.

Trustable words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not trustable.

To manage your mind, know that there is nothing, and then relinquish all attachment to nothingness.

The real key to health and happiness and success is self knowledge

We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner space that makes it liveable.

Man is ruled by Earth. Earth is ruled by Heaven. Heaven is ruled by the Way. The Way is ruled by itself.

Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The less one knows.

Once you arrive {at a spontaneous awareness of the Great Oneness}, remember: it isn't necessary to struggle to maintain unity with it. All you have to do is participate in it.

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

If you fail to honor your people, They will fail to honor you; It is said of a good leader that When the work is done, the aim fulfilled, The people will say, "We did this ourselves."

A vessel is formed from a lump of clay with care, however, it is the empty space within the vessel that makes it useful.

Abandon wisdom, discard knowledge, and people will benefit a hundredfold.

Knowledge studies others, wisdom is self known.

Too much success is not an advantage. Do not tinkle like jade Or clatter like stone chimes.

Always without desire we must be found, If its deep mystery we would sound; But if desire always within us be, Its outer fringe is all that we shall see.

Learn from the people. Plan with the people. Begin with what they have. Build on what they know.

Activity conquers coldness. Stillness conquers heat.

Creating without claiming, Doing without taking credit, Guiding without interfering, This is Primal Virtue.

If there is to be peace in the home, There must be peace in the heart.

I have three treasures that I cherish. The first is compassion. The second is moderation. The third is not claiming to be first in the world.

He who holds on to the Way seeks no excess. Since he lacks excess, he can grow old in no need to be renewed.

Remember: if you can cease all restless activity, your integral nature will appear.

The wise man puts himself last and finds himself first.

The more laws and orders are multiplied, the more theft and violence increase.

Everything will settle in its own place automatically.