Laozi Quotes

Seal the openings, shut the doors, dull the sharpness, untie the knots, dim the light, become one with the dust. This is called the profound union.

Lessen selfishness and restrain desires.

Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

There is no greater mistake than to make light of an enemy By making light of an enemy many a kingdom has been lost.

Displaying riches and titles with pride brings about one's downfall.

There is a thing inherent and natural which existed before heaven and earth. Motionless and fathomless, It stands alone and never changes; It pervades everywhere and never becomes exhausted. It may be regarded as the Mother of the Universe. I do not know its name. If I am forced to give It a name, I call it Tao, and I name it as supreme.

Who can rest until the moment of action?

Conduct your triumph as a funeral.

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

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

Those who are right do not argue. Those who argue are not right.

A violent wind does not outlast the morning; a squall of rain does not outlast the day. Such is the course of Nature. And if Nature herself cannot sustain her efforts long, how much less can man!

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

The more we give to others, the more we are increased.

Standing on "tip toe", one stands not firmly. Straining in stride, one cannot walk far. Flaunting of deeds, one is unfavorably noticed. Being self-righteous, one is not respected. Boasting of self, one's merit is unrecognized. Glorifying of self, one loses the opportunity for greatness. From the viewpoint of Tao These represent imperfect Te, Valued as are filth or disease.

To become learned, each day add something. To become enlightened, each day drop something

It is hidden but always present.

The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.

The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors. It is through this that they suffer famine.

The Sage expects no recognition for what he does; he achieves merit but does not take it to himself; he does not wish to display his worth.

There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontent. And there is no greater disaster than greed.

Although most people spend their entire lives following this biological impulse (i.e. the sex drive), it is only a tiny portion of our beings. . . . If we remain obsessed with seeds and eggs, we are married to the fertile reproductive valley of the Mysterious Mother but not to her immeasurable heart and all-knowing mind.

He who knows much about others may be learned, but he who understands himself is more intelligent. He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

Everything will settle in its own place automatically.

When the people of the world all know beauty as beauty, There arises the recognition of ugliness. When they all know the good as good, There arises the recognition of evil.

Truly, only acting without thought of one's life is superior to valuing one's life.

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.

The heavy is the root of the light. The tranquil is the ruler of the hasty.

A good calculator does not need artificial aids.

We put thirty spokes to make a wheel: But it is on the hole in the center that the use of the cart hinges. We make a vessel from a lump of clay; But it is the empty space within the vessel that makes it useful. We make doors and windows for a room; But it is the empty spaces that make the room livable. Thus, while existence has advantages, It is the emptiness that makes it useful.

Express yourself completely, then keep quiet. Be like the forces of nature: when it blows, there is only wind; when it rains, there is only rain; when the clouds pass, the sun shines through. If you open yourself to the Tao, you are at one with the Tao and you can embody it completely. If you open yourself to insight, you are at one with insight and you can use it completely. If you open yourself to loss, you are at one with loss and you can accept it completely. Open yourself to the Tao, then trust your natural responses; and everything will fall into place.

Behave simply and hold on to purity.

Approach the universe with Tao, And evil will have no power. Not that evil is not powerful, But its power will not be used to harm others.

Perfect kindness acts without thinking of kindness.

Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame. Therefore the Master fulfills her own obligations and corrects her own mistakes. She does what she needs to do and demands nothing of others.

Abandon cleverness, discard profit, and thieves and robbers will disappear.

If you scramble about in search of inner peace, you will lose your inner peace.

The valley spirit never dies. It is called the mystical female.

Abandon learning and there will be no sorrow.

He who tip-toes cannot stand; he who strides cannot walk.

In the world there are four greats, and the king is one of them.

Keep behind, and you shall be put in front; keep out, and you shall be kept in.

The fourth (of the four cardinal virtues) is supportiveness: this manifests as service to others without expectation of reward. (Paraphrased: Such service is not a mere conforming to some external rule of behavior, but instead a manifestation of your original nature).

Softness triumphs over hardness, feebleness over strength. What is more malleable is always superior over that which is immoveable. This is the principle of controlling things by going along with them, of mastery through adaptation.

The scholar gains every day; the man of Tao loses every day.

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

Practice non-action. Work without doing.

By the accident of fortune a man may rule the world for a time, but by virtue of love and kindness he may rule the world forever.