Laozi Quotes

Arms are instruments of ill omen, not the instruments of the gentleman. When one is compelled to use them, it is best to do so without relish.

In the highest antiquity, the people did not know that there were rulers. In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them.

Without the tao, Kindness and compassion are replaced by law and justice; Faith and trust are supplanted by ritual and ceremony.

Do you think that you can clear your mind by sitting constantly in silent meditation? This makes your mind narrow, not clear. Integral awareness is fluid and adaptable, present in all places and at all times. That is true meditation. ... The Tao is clear and simple, and it doesn't avoid the world.

There is no greater offence than harbouring desires. There is no greater disaster than discontent. There is no greater misfortune than wanting more.

Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.

When leading people and serving Heaven, nothing exceeds moderation.

The ancient Masters didn't try to educate the people, but kindly taught them to not-know. When they think that they know the answers, people are difficult to guide. When they know that they don't know, people can find their own way. If you want to learn how to govern, avoid being clever or rich. The simplest pattern is the clearest. Content with an ordinary life, you can show all people the way back to their own true nature.

Do you think you can make the world a better place? I do not think you can. It is already perfect.

Is not the action of nature like the stretching of a bow? The high, it pulls down; the low, it lifts up; It takes from what is in excess In order to make good of what is deficient. Who can take what they have in excess and offer it to others?

Happiness perches on misery. Misery crouches beneath happiness.

Give up learning, and put an end to your troubles.

The wise man knows he doesn't know.

The sage embraces the one, and is an example to the world.

Peacefulness is an inner sense of calm - it comes from becoming still - in order to reflect and meditate on our inner wisdom and receive answers. A peaceful heart is one that is free from worry and rouble. It's becoming quiet so we can look at things quietly so we can more clearly understand them and thus come up with creative solutions. It is learning to live in the present. Freedom from desire leads to inner peace.

That which shrinks must first expand.

Can you care for the people and rule the country and not be cunning?

To lead, one must follow.

The reason why the universe is eternal is that it does not live for itself; it gives life to others as it transforms.

Make your heart like a lake, with calm, still surface, and great depths of kindness.

What is and what is not create each other.

The wise leader settles for good work and then lets others have the floor.

The more you know the less you understand.

The sage honors his part of the settlement, but does not exact his due from others.

The higher the sun ariseth, the less shadow doth he cast; even so the greater is the goodness, the less doth it covet praise; yet cannot avoid its rewards in honors.

Through return to simple living comes control of desires. In control of desires stillness is attained. In stillness the world is restored.

The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be. The more subsidies you have, the less self reliant people will be.

Because of deep love, one is courageous. Because of frugality, one is generous. Because of not daring to be ahead of the world, one becomes the leader of the world.

Geese are white, crows are black. No argument will change this.

Man at his birth is supple and tender, but in death, he is rigid and hard. Thus, suppleness and tenderness accompany life, but rigidity and hardness accompany death.

If princes and kings could follow it (Tao), all things would by themselves abide, Heaven and Earth would unite and sweet dew would fall. People would by themselves find harmony, without being commanded.

The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly.

Prepare while it's easy.

Nothing and no one in the world is valuable or worthless.

Do nondoing, strive for non-stiving, savor the flavourless, make much of little, repay enmity with virture; plan for difficulty when it is still easy, do the great while it is still small.

Virtue in its grandest aspect is neither more nor less than following reason.

He who, conscious of being strong, is content to be weak, he shall be the paragon of mankind. Being the paragon of mankind, Virtue will never desert him. He returns to the state of a little child.

The best soldier does not attack. The superior fighter succeeds without violence. The greatest conqueror wins without struggle. The most successful manager leads without dictating. This is intelligent non aggressiveness.

Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.

Those who are content suffer no disgrace.

Can you be still and look inside?If so, then you know the truth is always available, and always responsive.

Because every portion of the body, mind, and spirit yearns for the integration of yin and yang, angelic intercourse is led by the spirit rather than the sexual organs. . . . Where ordinary intercourse unites sex organs with sex organs, angelic cultivation unites spirit with spirit, mind with mind, and every cell of one body with every cell of the other body.

Activity conquers coldness. Stillness conquers heat.

He (the Sage) does not show off, therefore he shines.

Great acts are made up of small deeds.

Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.

Those who defeat others are strong, those who defeat themselves are mighty.

The value of teaching without words and accomplishing without action is understood by few in the world.