Laozi Quotes

Although there are weapons for tens and hundreds of soldiers, they will not be used.

Without going outside, you may know the whole world!

The most powerful weapon known is the weapon of blessing. Therefore, a clever person relies on it. He wins with peace, not with war.

The good leader carries water for his people.

Stillness is easy to maintain.

Those who advice the ruler on the Way, do not want the world subdued with weapons.

A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants.

Those who act will fail. Those who seize will lose.

When the Way is lost there is virtue. When virtue is lost there is benevolence. When benevolence is lost there is righteousness. When righteousness is lost there are rituals.

Carrying body and soul and embracing the one, Can you avoid separation?

To rejoice in conquest is to rejoice in murder.

The Tao of the sage is work without effort.

The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, Having bestowed all he has on others, he has yet more; having given all he has to others, he is richer still.

Things flourish, then each returns to its root. Returning to the root is called stillness: Stillness is called return to life, return to life is called the constant; knowing the constant is called enlightenment.

Things exalted then decay. This is going against the Way. What goes against the Way meets an early end.

There is no illusion great than fear.

Chanting is no more holy than listening to the murmur of a stream, counting prayer beads no more sacred than simply breathing. . . . If you wish to attain oneness with the Tao, don't get caught up in spiritual superficialities.

When the effective leader is finished with his work, the people say it happened naturally.

A good traveler leaves no tracks. Good speech lacks fault-finding.

Peace and quiet govern the world.

Be merciful, moderate, and modest.

I have three treasures which I hold and keep. The first is mercy; the second is economy. The third is daring not to be ahead of others. From mercy comes courage; from economy comes generosity; From humility comes leadership.

Those who show off do not shine.

Water does not force its way.

Why are the people rebellious? Because the rulers interfere too much. Therefore they are rebellious.

The Way that can be walked is not the eternal Way.

Yield and overcome; Bend and be straight; Empty and be full; Wear out and be new; Have little and gain; Have much and be confused. ...The ancients say, "Yield and overcome." Is that an empty saying? Be really whole, And all things will come to you.

The greatest teacher has nothing to say. He simply gives himself in service, and never worries.

If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you aren't afraid of dying, there is nothing you can't achieve. Trying to control the future is like trying to take the master carpenter's place. When you handle the master carpenter's tools, chances are that you'll cut your hand.

Most of the world's religions serve only to strengthen attachments to false concepts such as self and other, life and death, heaven and earth, and so on. Those who become entangled in these false ideas are prevented from perceiving the Integral Oneness.

The feminine values are the fountain of bliss. Know the masculine, Keep to the feminine.

When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder.

The high must make the low its base.

Do you want to improve the world? I don't think it can be done. The world is sacred. It can't be improved. If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it. If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it. There is a time for being ahead, a time for being behind; a time for being in motion, a time for being at rest; a time for being vigorous, a time for being exhausted; a time for being safe, a time for being in danger. The Master sees things as they are, without trying to control them. She lets them go their own way, and resides at the center of the circle.

To have enough of enough is always enough.

The more clever and cunning people are, the stranger the events will be.

The best of all teachers is the one who helps people so that eventually they don't need him.

A good door needs no lock, still it can't be opened.

Cut out doors and windows for the house. The holes make it useful.

The world is a sacred vessel. It should not be meddled with. It should not be owned. If you try to meddle with it you will ruin it. If you try to own it you will lose it

People are difficult to rule, because of their knowledge.

It is wisdom to know others. It is enlightenment to know oneself.

Develop the strength of a man, but live as gently as a woman

The value of actions lies in their timing.

Returning to the source is serenity.

Obscure, like muddy waters.

He does not feel pity for himself - thus he can successfully develop.

Eliminate mental muddiness and obscurity; keep your mind crystal clear. Allow your pure original insight to emerge. Quiet your emotions and abide in serenity. Don't go crazy with the worship of idols, images, and ideas; this is like putting a new head on top of the head you already have. Remember: if you can cease all restless activity, your integral nature will appear.