Taoism Quotes

The Tao's principle is spontaneity.

Those who are content suffer no disgrace.

The highest benevolence acts without purpose.

The way of heaven is to help and not harm.

Heaven and Earth are not kind. They regard all things as offerings.

When the great Tao is abandoned, benevolence and righteousness arise.

There was something that finished chaos, born before Heaven and Earth.

Cautious, like crossing a river in the winter.

Excellent leaders of people lower themselves.

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

People are difficult to rule, because of their knowledge.

Behave simply and hold on to purity.

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

The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly.

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

Those who know when it is enough will not perish.

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.

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.

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

Filling life exceedingly is called ominous.

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

No misfortune is worse than underestimating the enemy. Underestimating the enemy, I risk losing my treasure.

Can you make your soul embrace the One and not lose it?

The brittle is easy to shatter.

A tree as wide as a man's embrace grows from a tiny shoot.

Pounding an edge to sharpness will not make it last.

I am wearied, as if I lacked a home to go to.

Other people have more than they need, I alone seem wanting.

By compassion one can be brave.

The sage honors his part of the settlement, but does not exact his due from others.

I have no desire to desire, and people become like the uncarved wood by themselves.

The sage desires no desire, does not value rare treasures, learns without learning, recovers what people have left behind.

Gain or loss, what is worse?

When the palace is magnificent, the fields are filled with weeds, and the granaries are empty.

Some have lavish garments, carry sharp swords, and feast on food and drink. They possess more than they can spend. This is called the vanity of robbers. It is certainly not the Way.

A good wanderer leaves no trace.

When everyone sees good, then bad exists.

He (the sage) is good to those who are good. He is also good to those who are not good. That is the virtue of good.

Must one dread what others dread?

The rigid and big belong below. The soft and weak belong above.

What people loathe the most is to be orphaned, desolate, unworthy. But this is what princes and kings call themselves.

When the emperor is crowned or the three dukes are appointed, rather than sending a gift of jade carried by four horses, remain still and offer the Way.

To be brave without compassion, generous without moderation, and rule without refraining from being first in the world, are certain deaths.

Do not strive for the shine of jade, but clatter like stone.

What Heaven detests, who knows why? Even the sage considers it difficult.

When much virtue is achieved, nothing is not overcome.

A good mooring needs no knot, still no one can untie it.

Wear down to be renewed.