Laozi Quotes

Do not conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance. Thorns spring up when an army passes. Years of misery follow a great victory. Do only what needs to be done without using violence.

The small is easy to scatter.

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

When everyone in the world sees beauty, then ugly exists.

He who steals a hook shall be hanged; while he who steals the state shall be crowned as prince.

Filling life exceedingly is called ominous.

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.

The Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to yin and yang. Yin and yang give birth to all things... The complete whole is the complete whole. So also is any part the complete whole... But forget about understanding and harmonizing and making all things one. The universe is already a harmonious oneness; just realize it.

He who stands on tiptoe does not stand firm.

If you can find true contentment, it will last forever.

When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one embrace, they can be kept from separating.

He who regards the world as he does the fortune of his own body can govern the world. He who loves the world as he does his own body can be entrusted with the world.

A whale out of water is over-run by ants.

If you tell me, I will listen. If you show me, I will see. If you let me experience, I will learn!

No disaster is worse than being discontented.

Lightly given promises must meet with little trust.

Going back to the origin is called peace; it means reversion to destiny. Reversion to destiny is called eternity. Those who know eternity are called enlightened.

If one desires to receive one must first give. This is called profound understanding.

Yet mystery and reality emerge from the same source.

He who knows how to be aggressive, and yet remains patient, becomes a receptacle for all of Nature's lessons.

Nothing is weaker than water, Yet for overcoming what is hard and strong, Nothing surpasses it.

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.

If lightning is the anger of the gods, then the gods are concerned mostly about trees.

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

Being a model to the world, eternal virtue will never falter in you, and you return to the boundless.

The best way to manage anything is by making use of its own nature.

When you realize where you come from, you naturally become tolerant, amused, kindhearted as a grandmother, and dignified as a king. Immersed in wonder, you can deal with whatever life brings you, and when death comes, you are ready.

If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is dim for the light it gives then all will go well. This is called Acting Naturally.

What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? What is a bad man but a good man's job? If you do not remember this, You will get lost, No matter how intelligent you are. It is the great secret.

Heaven's Way does not contend, yet it certainly triumphs. It does not speak, yet it certainly answers. It does not summon, yet things come by themselves. It seems to be at rest, yet it certainly has a plan.

Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.

Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.

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

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

Meet the big while it is small.

The ego is entranced by ... names and ideas... However names and concepts only block your perception of this Great Oneness. Therefore it is wise to ignore them. Those who live inside their egos are continually bewildered.

The Way is ever nameless.

Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here.

Intelligent people know others. Enlightened people know themselves.

If you want to become full, let yourself be empty.

The sage never strives for the great, and thereby the great is achieved.

Between yea and nay, how much difference is there?

I confess that there is nothing to teach: no religion, no science, no writings which will lead your mind back to Spirit. Today I speak this way, tomorrow that, but always the Path is beyond words and beyond mind.

The purest white seems stained.

The (method of) correction shall by a turn become distortion, and the good in it shall by a turn become evil.

Find a teacher who is an integral being, a beacon who extends his light and virtue with equal ease to those who appreciate him and those who don't. Shape yourself in his mold, bathe in his nourishing radiance, and reflect it out to the rest of the world.

Yielding, like ice about to melt.

The softest of stuff in the world, penetrates quickly the hardest, insubstantial, it enters where there is no room.