Laozi Quotes

Excellent warriors are not violent.

The rigid tree will be felled.

Though tightly the net of words forms, how surely truth slips out.

If your virtue is especially radiant, it can be possible to open a pathway to the subtle realm and receive these celestial teachings directly from the immortals.

The tree which needs two arms to span its girth sprang from the tiniest shoot. Yon tower, nine stories high, rose from a little mound of earth. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct.

Peace is our natural state of being.

I do not interfere, and people become rich by themselves.

Appetite for food and sex is nature.

The sage has no concern for himself, but makes the concerns of others his own.

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.

Not praising the deserving prevents envy.

But in the present day men cast off gentleness, and are all for being bold; they spurn frugality, and retain only extravagance; they discard humility, and aim only at being first. Therefore they shall surely perish.

That, which others compress - will widen up and open. That, which others weaken - will strengthen. That, which others destroy - will blossom. Whoever wished to take something from the other, will inevitably loose his own.

Because he (the Sage) demands no honor, he will never be dishonored.

Those who know are not learned. Those who are learned do not know.

The wise cares about everyone, and he becomes an example to all.

The leader's main job is to make themselves obsolete.

When armies are mobilized and issues joined, the man who is sorry over the fact will always win.

The most complete seems lacking. Yet in use it is not exhausted.

Kindness in words creates confidence.

Tao loves and nourishes all things, but does not dominate it over them.

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

If you close your mind in judgements and traffic with desires, your heart will be troubled. If you keep your mind from judging and aren't led by the senses, your heart will find peace.

Prepare for the difficult while it is still easy. Deal with the big while it is still small. Difficult undertakings have always started with what easy. Great undertakings always started with what is small. Therefore the sage never strives for the great,And thereby the great is achieved.

First and last follow each other.

Those who stay where they are will endure.

If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.

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

The great Way is easy, yet people prefer the side paths. Be aware when things are out of balance. Stay centered within the Tao. When rich speculators prosper While farmers lose their land; when government officials spend money on weapons instead of cures; when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible while the poor have nowhere to turn- all this is robbery and chaos. It is not in keeping with the Tao.

He who overcomes others has force; he who overcomes himself is strong.

To bear and not to own; to act and not lay claim; to do the work and let it go: for just letting it go is what makes it stay.

Therefore, if a great kingdom humbles itself before a small kingdom, it shall make that small kingdom its prize. And if a small kingdom humbles itself before a great kingdom, it shall win over that great kingdom. Thus the one humbles itself in order to attain, the other attains because it is humble. If the great kingdom has no further desire than to bring men together and to nourish them, the small kingdom will have no further desire than to enter the service of the other. But in order that both may have their desire, the great one must learn humility.

People turn their eyes and ears to him (the sage), and the sage cares for them like his own children.

When they lose their sense of awe, people turn to religion. When they no longer trust themselves, they begin to depend upon authority. Therefore the Master steps back so that people won't be confused. He teaches without a teaching, so that people will have nothing to learn.

He who is great must make humility his base. He who is high must make lowliness his foundation. Thus, princes and kings in speaking of themselves use the terms "lonely," "friendless," "of small account." Is not this making humility their base?

When great armies go to war, Sorrow is the sole winner.

Observe how endings become beginnings.

Those who are quiet value the words. When their task is completed, people will say: We did it ourselves.

Excellent conquerors do not engage.

It is because every one tinder Heaven recognizes beauty as beauty that the idea of ugliness exists.

Open yourself to the truth, then trust in your natural responses, and everything will fall into place.

As long as we have hope, we have direction, the energy to move, and the map to move by. We have a hundred alternatives, a thousand paths and an infinity of dreams. Hopeful, we are halfway to where we want to go; hopeless, we are lost forever.

Quarrel with a friend - and you are both wrong.

Keep your mouth shut, and close up the doors of sight and sound, and as long as you live you will have no vexation. But open your mouth, or become inquisitive, and you will be in trouble all your life long.

He who is able to conquer others is powerful; he who is able to conquer himself is more powerful.

Use the light to return to clarity.

Those who understand others are clever, those who understand themselves are wise.