Laozi Quotes

There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war.

The Tao principle is what happens of itself.

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.

The sage never strives for greatness, and can therefore accomplish greatness.

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

Yet mystery and imagination arise from the same source. This source is called darkness ... Darkness within darkness, the gateway to all understanding.

Cautious, like crossing a river in the winter.

Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.

Therefore the Sage, wishing to be above the people, must by his words put himself below them; wishing to be before the people, he must put himself behind them. In this way, though he has his place above them, the people do not feel his weight; though he has his place before them, they do not feel it as an injury. Therefore all mankind delight to exalt him, and weary of him not.

He who controls the past controls the future.

From caring comes courage.

Nurture the spontaneous peaceful life.

The men who are great live with that which is substantial, they do not stay with that which is superficial; they abide with realities, they do not remain with what is showy. The one they discard, the other they hold.

Excellent soldiers are not furious.

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

Of the best rulers, The people only know that they exist; the next best they love and praise the next they fear; and the next they revile. When they do not command the people's faith, some will lose faith in them, and then they resort to oaths! But of the best when their task is accomplished, their work done, the people all remark, We have done it ourselves.

The best way to carve is not to split.

The supreme rulers are hardly known by their subjects. The lesser are loved and praised. The even lesser are feared. The least are despised.

From wonder into wonder existence opens.

The wise man knows without traveling.

The Way to do is to be.

Conquering the world and changing it, I do not think it can succeed.

When the worst student hears about the Way, he laughs out loud. If he did not laugh, it would be unworthy of being the Way.

You should rule a great country As you would fry a small fish- With the least turning.

Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short and long, life and death? Can you let go of all these dualities and embrace the Tao without skepticism or panic? If so, you can reach the heart of the Integral Oneness.

Just as the value of a house lies in its location, The value of a mind lies in its depth, The value of giving lies in the presence of a generous spirit, The value of words lies in their reliability.

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

Some lose yet gain, others gain and yet lose

One who lives in accordance with nature does not go against the way of things but moves in harmony with the present moment.

The forceful and violent will not die from natural causes.

The Way to Heaven has no favorites. It is always with the good man.

How can one liberate the many? By first liberating his own being. He does this not by elevating himself, but by lowering himself. He lowers himself to that which is simple, modest, true; integrating it into himself, he becomes a master of simplicity, modesty, truth.

In the end, The treasure of life is missed by those who hold on and gained by those who let go

My teachings are easy to understand and easy to put into practice. Yet your intellect will never grasp them, and if you try to practice them, you'll fail. My teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning? If you want to know me, look inside your heart.

Heaven's Way gives no favors. It always remains with good people.

When the great Tao is forgotten, goodness and piety appear. When the body's intelligence declines, cleverness and knowledge step forth. When there is no peace in the family, filial piety begins. When the country falls into chaos, patriotism is born.

Stop leaving and you will arrive, Stop searching and you will see, Stop running away and you will be found.

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

Realize thy Simple Self, Embrace thy Original Nature.

Can you gather your vital breath and yet be tender like a newborn baby?

If I have just an ounce of sense, I follow the great Way, and fear only to stray from it.

I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.

The highest truth cannot be put into words.

The great Way is all-pervading. It reaches to the left and to the right. All things depend on it with their existence. Still it demands no obedience.

Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

There is no greater disaster than discontent.

We are all capable of much more than we think we are.

You will understand a great truth when you get to realize that what you do to others, you are doing to yourself.