Laozi Quotes

The Way of the Sage is to act but not to compete.

Never take over the world to tamper with it. Those who want to tamper with it are not fit to take over the world.

No weapon is sharper than will.

When his (the good ruler's) task is accomplished and his work done, The people all say, "It happened to us naturally.

Favor and disgrace are like fear. Favor is in a higher place, and disgrace in a lower place. When you win them you are like being in fear, and when you lose them you are also like being in fear. So favor and disgrace are like fear.

Kindness in thinking creates profundity. Kindness in giving creates love.

. . . integral wisdom involves a direct participation in every moment: the observer and the observed are dissolved in the light of pure awareness, and no mental concepts or attitudes are present to dim that light.

To know that you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease.

What has not yet emerged is easy to prevent.

Yielding is the manner of the Way.

He that humbles himself shall be preserved entire. He that bends shall be made straight. He that is empty shall be filled. He that is worn out shall be renewed. He who has little shall succeed. He who has much shall go astray.

He who walks on tip-toe does not walk on solid ground.

Therefore the Sage embraces Unity, and is a model for all under Heaven. He is free from self-display, therefore he shines forth; from self-assertion, therefore he is distinguished; from self-glorification, therefore he has merit; from self-exaltation, therefore he rises superior to all. Inasmuch as he does not strive, there is no one in the world who can strive with him.

Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men doesn't try to force issues or defeat enemies by force of arms. For every force there is a counterforce. Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself. The Master does his job and then stops. He understands that the universe is forever out of control, and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Tao. Because he believes in himself, he doesn't try to convince others. Because he is content with himself, he doesn't need others' approval. Because he accepts himself, the whole world accepts him.

The sage does not strive to be great. Thereby he can accomplish the great.

In order to eliminate the negative influences, simply ignore them.

The man of knowledge acquires something new everyday, and the man of Tao lets go of something new every day.

Water benefits the ten thousand things and does not oppose them.

A tree that is unbending, is easily broken.

When the hares have all been caught, the hunting dogs are cooked.

A great nation is like a great man:When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.Having realized it, he admits it.Having admitted it, he corrects it.He considers those who point out his faultsas his most benevolent teachers.He thinks of his enemyas the shadow that he himself casts.

What resists, persists.

It is the child that sees the primordial secret in Nature and it is the child of ourselves we return to. The child within us is simple and daring enough to live the Secret.

The best fighter is never angry.

The Way is eternal. Until your last day, you are free from peril.

If the Great Way perishes there will morality and duty. When cleverness and knowledge arise great lies will flourish. When relatives fall out with one another there will be filial duty and love. When states are in confusion there will be faithful servants.

An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.

I do not know its name. I call it the Way. For the lack of better words I call it great.

Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe.

Act non-action; undertake no undertaking; taste the tasteless.

Weapons are ominous tools. They are abhorred by all creatures. Anyone who follows the Way shuns them.

Those who die without being forgotten get longevity.

Nature does not have to insist.

If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand. If you want to get rid of something, you must first allow it to flourish. If you want to take something, you must first allow it to be given. This is called the subtler perception of the way things are. The soft overcomes the hard. The slow overcomes the fast. Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results.

Do nothing, and leave nothing undone. ["Doing nothing" is what happens when the doer disappears, it isn't something that one does or chooses not to do.]

That the soft overcomes the hard, and the yielding overcomes the resistant, is a fact known by all, but practiced by few.

I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any.

The more laws that are written, the more criminals are produced.

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

Correct becomes defect. Good becomes ominous. People's delusions have certainly lasted long.

Stillness overcomes heat.

He who is contented is rich.

Whoever is planted in the Tao will not be rooted up. Whoever embraces the Tao will not slip away. Her name will be held in honor from generation to generation. Let the Tao be present in your life and you will become genuine. Let it be present in your family and your family will flourish. Let it be present in your country and your country will be an example to all countries in the world. Let it be present in the universe and the universe will sing. How do I know this is true? By looking inside myself.

All things flourish, and each returns to its source.

Goodie-goodies are the thieves of virtue.

The sage is one with the world, and lives in harmony with it.

Loss is not as bad as wanting more.

Simple, like uncarved wood.