Quotes About Laozi

#1. Laozi was an ancient Chinese philosopher. According to Chinese tradition, Laozi lived in the 6th century BC, however many historians contend that Laozi

Lao-Tzu

#2. Many historians contend that Laozi actually lived in the 4th century BC, which was the period of Hundred Schools of Thought and Warring States Period, while others contend he was a mythical figure. Laozi was credited with

Lao-Tzu

#3. The reason why rivers and seas are able to be lords over a hundred mountain streams, is that they know how to keep below them. That is why they are able to reign over all the mountain streams.

Laozi

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

Laozi

#5. The highest virtue is not virtuous. Therefore it has virtue. The lowest virtue holds on to virtue. Therefore it has no virtue.

Laozi

#6. The superior leader keeps informed about everything but interferes hardly at all.

Laozi

#7. How can one liberate the many? By first liberating his own being. He does this not by elevating himself, but by lowering himself. He lowers himself to that which is simple, modest, true; integrating it into himself, he becomes a master of simplicity, modesty, truth.

Laozi

#8. Do not make them (people) weary at their work. If you do not make them weary, they will not be weary of you.

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

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#10. Strong winds do not last all morning, hard rains do not last all day.

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#11. To know one's ignorance is the best part of knowledge.

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#12. If I have just an ounce of sense, I follow the great Way, and fear only to stray from it.

Laozi

#13. There is no need to run outside for better seeing ... Rather abide at the center of your being; For the more you leave it the less you learn. Search your heart and see ... The way to do is to be.

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#14. Even the longest journey must begin where you stand.

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#15. The sage does not act and therefore does not fail, does not seize and therefore does not lose.

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#16. The greatest revelation is stillness.

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

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#18. The named was born from the unnamed ... all being flows from non-being ... the describable world emanates from an indescribable source.

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#19. Giving to others selflesly and anonymously, radiating light throughout the world and illuminating your own darkness, your virtue becomes a sanctuary for yourself and all beings.

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#20. Filling all the way to the brim is not as good as halting in time.

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#21. When leading people and serving Heaven, nothing exceeds moderation.

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

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#23. Why did the ancients praise the Way? Did they not say it was because you find what you seek and are saved from your wrongdoings?

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#24. Heavy is the root of light.

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#25. Thorn bushes grow where armies have camped.

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#26. The ancients said: Hulk to be whole.

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#27. The virtuous carry out the settlement, but those without virtue pursue their claims.

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#28. Do not attempt to conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance.

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

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#30. The most difficult in the world must be easy in its beginning.

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#31. Fine words are traded. Noble deeds gain respect. But people who are not good, why abandon them?

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#32. Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water. Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, none can withstand it, because they have no way to change it. So the flexible overcome the adamant, the yielding overcome the forceful. Everyone knows this, but no one can do it.

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#33. The transformation toward eternal life is gradual. The heavy gross energy of body, mind, and spirit must first be purified and uplifted. When the energy ascends ... then self mastery can be sought.

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#34. People are hard to govern. The rulers interfere with too much. That is why people are hard to govern.

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#35. A tree that can fill the span of a man's arms grows from a downy tip; A terrace nine stories high rises from level earth; A journey of a thousand miles starts from beneath one's feet.

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#36. The sturdiest virtue seems fragile.

Laozi

#37. Surrender your self-interest. Love others as much as you love yourself. Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven.

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#38. There is no greater disaster than discontent.

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#39. Force is followed by loss of strength. This is not the way of the Tao. That which goes against the Tao comes to an early end.

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#40. When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. When the sage is put to use, he becomes the head.

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#41. He who has no faith in others shall find no faith in them.

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#42. What has no substance can penetrate what has no opening.

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#43. Because he (the Sage) opposes no one, no one in the world can oppose him.

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#44. Attending fully and becoming supple, Can you be as a newborn babe?

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#45. If people live in constant fear of death, and if breaking the law is punished by death, then who would dare?

Laozi

#46. Though (the Tao) is uncreated itself, it creates all things. Because it has no substance, it can enter into where there is no space. Exercising by returning to itself, winning victories by remaining gentle and yielding, it is softer than anything, and therefore overcomes everything hard.

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#47. The Way of Tao is this: It strives not, but conquers; It speaks not, but all is made clear; It summons not, but its house is crowded; It contrives not, but the design is perfect.

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#48. If you want everything, you first have to give everything up.

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#49. It's hard to keep your balance standing tip-toe.

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#50. The Tao is unpredictable to those that live according to plans. Only those who have no agenda are in harmony with the Tao.

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#51. The sage seeks freedom from desire. He does not collect precious things. He learns not to hold on to ideas. He brings men back to what they have lost.

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

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#53. A government can be compared to our lungs. Our lungs are best when we don't realize they are helping us breathe. It is when we are constantly aware of our lungs that we know they have come down with an illness.

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#54. There is one appointed supreme executioner. Truly, trying to take the place of the supreme executioner is like trying to carve wood like a master carpenter. Of those who try to carve wood like a master carpenter, there are few who do not injure their hands.

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

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#56. Understand this if nothing else: spiritual freedom and oneness with the Tao are not randomly bestowed gifts, but the rewards of conscious self-transformation and self-evolution.

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#57. 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.

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#58. Learn to value what is important today in the subtle realm rather than what appears desirable tomorrow in the worldly realm.

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#59. The True Person avoids extremes, self-indulgence, and extravagance.

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#60. What makes a kingdom great is its being like a down-flowing river,
the central point towards which all the smaller streams under Heaven converge; or like the female throughout the world, who by quiescence always overcomes the male. And quiescence is a form of humility.

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#61. Trustable words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not trustable.

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#62. Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish - don't overdo it.

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#63. Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return.

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#64. A great country needs more people to serve it. A small country needs more people to serve. So, if both shall get what they need, the great country ought to yield.

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#65. When good thing are accomplished, it does not claim (or name) them. This is Te, which is close in meaning to power or virtue. It is something within a person, and it is enhanced by following the Tao, or 'that from which nothing can deviate'.

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

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

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#68. The Tao is great. The universe is great. Earth is great. Man is great. These are the four great powers. Man follows the earth. Earth follows the universe. The universe follows the Tao. The Tao follows only itself.

Laozi

#69. Heaven is eternal, earth everlasting. they endure this way because they do not live for themselves. in the same way, the wise person puts himself last, and thereby finds himself first, holds himself outside, and thereby remains at the center, abandons himself, and is thereby fulfilled.

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#70. Yielding is the manner of the Way.

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#71. When two opposing sides meet in battle, the one without an enemy will be victorious.

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#72. In dwelling, be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart.

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#73. To manage your mind, know that there is nothing, and then relinquish all attachment to nothingness.

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#74. Distortion upon distortion: ... the more one uses the mind, the more confused one becomes.

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#75. If you really want everything, then give up everything.

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#76. Yielding, like ice about to melt.

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#77. To be constantly without desire is the way to have a vision of the mystery of heaven and earth. For constantly to have desire is the means by which their limitations are seen.

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#78. The sage never strives for the great, and thereby the great is achieved.

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#79. The ten thousand things flourish and then each returns to the root from which it came. Returning to the root is stillness. Through stillness each fulfils its destiny.

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#80. How can a man's life keep it's course If he will not let it flow, Those who flow as life flows know They need no other force: They feel no wear, they feel no tear, They need no mending, no repair.

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#81. Those who stand on their toes are not steady.

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#82. The best way to carve is not to split.

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#83. The value of actions lies in their timing.

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#84. Can you step back from your own mind and thus understand all things?

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#85. If you can find true contentment, it will last forever.

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#86. Hold on to the center and make up your mind to rejoice in this paradise called life.

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#87. Pursue without interfering.

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#88. Praise of power leads to weakness; Love of things leads to loss; The wise one leads by filling people's hearts; He destroys illusion and disturbs those who believe they are wise; He does nothing yet everything happens.

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#89. He who regards many things easy will find many difficulties. Therefore the sage regards things difficult, and consequently never has difficulties.

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#90. Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.

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#91. To attain to the human form must always be a source of joy. And then to undergo continuous transitions, with only the infinite to look forward to: what incomparable bliss is that!

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

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#93. The world's big things only can be done by paying attention to their humble beginnings.

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#94. Wary, as if surrounded by strangers.

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#95. Freedom from desire leads to inner peace.

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#96. When the ancient Masters said, "If you want to be given everything, give everything up," they weren't using empty phrases. Only in being lived by the Tao can you be truly yourself.

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#97. When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.

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#98. Follow diligently the Way in your own heart, but make no display of it to the world.

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

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#100. Use the light that is in you to recover your natural clearness of sight

Laozi