Lao Tzu Quotes

So the unwanting soulsees what's hidden,and the ever-wanting soulsees only what it wants.

~ Lao Tzu

I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.

~ Lao Tzu

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.

~ Lao Tzu

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

~ Lao Tzu

Do you imagine the universe is agitated? Go into the desert at night and look at the stars. This practice should answer the question.

~ Lao Tzu

Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

~ Lao Tzu

If you don’t stand sincere by your wordshow sincere can the people be?Take great care over words, treasure them.1.17

~ Lao Tzu

The Master doesn't try to be powerful;thus he is truly powerful.The ordinary man keeps reaching for power;thus he never has enough.The Master does nothing,yet he leaves nothing undone.The ordinary man is always ding things,yet many more are left to be done.[…]Therefore the Master concerns himselfWith the depths and not the surface,With the fruit and not the flower.[…]Teaching without words,Performing without actions:That is the Master’s way.[…]The Master arrives without leaving,Sees the light without looking,Achieves without doing a thing.[…]The Master is above the people,And no one feels oppressed.She goes ahead of the people,And no feels manipulated.The whole world is grateful to her.Because she completes with no one,No one can complete with her.

~ Lao Tzu

The Way to do is to be.

~ Lao Tzu

Thus it is said:The path into the light seems dark,the path forward seems to go back,the direct path seems long,true power seems weak,true purity seems tarnished,true steadfastness seems changeable,true clarity seems obscure,the greatest are seems unsophisticated,the greatest love seems indifferent,the greatest wisdom seems childish.The Tao is nowhere to be found.Yet it nourishes and completes all things.

~ Lao Tzu

One gains by losing and loses by gaining.

~ Lao Tzu

If a person seems wicked, do not cast him away. Awaken him with your words, elevate him with your deeds, repay his injury with your kindness. Do not cast him away; cast away his wickedness.

~ Lao Tzu

Revere the unity of all-that-iscarry out your daily activities with compassion;if you do not limit your compassion,you yourself will not be limited.

~ Lao Tzu

Heaven’s Tao is impartial,yet those who follow its compassionate waywill always be nourished

~ Lao Tzu

Attain complete emptiness,Hold fast to stillness.Understanding the ordinary: Mind opens.Mind opening leads to compassion,Compassion to nobility,Nobility to heavenliness,Heavenliness to TAO. TAO endures. Your body dies.There is no danger.

~ Lao Tzu

Simplicity, patience, compassion.These three are your greatest treasures.Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.Patient with both friends and enemies,you accord with the way things are.Compassionate toward yourself,you reconcile all beings in the world.…There is no greater misfortunethan underestimating your enemy.Underestimating your enemymeans thinking that he is evil.Thus you destroy your three treasuresand become an enemy yourself.When two great forces oppose each other,the victory will goto the one that knows how to yield.

~ Lao Tzu

The wise man does not lay up his own treasures.The more he gives to others,the more he has for his own.

~ Lao Tzu

Highly evolved people have their own conscience as pure law.

~ Lao Tzu

Any good person who is motivated to attain awareness of the whole truth should follow the Universal Way to calm his mind and harmonize it with all aspects of life.

~ Lao Tzu

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend.

~ Lao Tzu

Failure is an opportunity.If you blame someone else,there is no end to the blame.Therefore the Masterfulfills her own obligationsand corrects her own mistakes.She does what she needs to doand demands nothing of others.

~ Lao Tzu

Rushing into action, you fail.Trying to grasp things, you lose them.Forcing a project to completion,you ruin what was almost ripe.Therefore the Master takes actionby letting things take their course.He remains as calm at the end as at the beginning.He has nothing,thus has nothing to lose.What he desires is non-desire;what he learns is to unlearn.He simply reminds peopleof who they have always been.He cares about nothing but the Tao.Thus he can care for all things.

~ Lao Tzu

To realize that you do not understand is a virtue, not to realize that you do not understand is a defect.

~ Lao Tzu

At the center of your beingyou have the answer,you know who you areand you know what you want.

~ Lao Tzu

The best fighter is never angry.

~ Lao Tzu

Man takes his law from the Earth, the Earth takes its law from Heaven, Heaven takes it law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its being what it is.

~ Lao Tzu

The more laws and restrictions there are,The poorer people become....The more rules and regulations,The more thieves and robbers.

~ Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu The key to growth is the introductionof higher dimensions of consciousnessinto our awareness.

~ Lao Tzu

The Master, by residing in the Tao,sets an example for all beings.Because he doesn't display himself,people can see his light.Because he has nothing to prove,people can trust his

~ Lao Tzu

Heaven's net is wide, but its mesh is fine

~ Lao Tzu

No one can insult me, because I do not want respect.No one can defeat me, because I have given up the idea of winning.How can you defeat me? You can only defeat someone who wants to win.

~ Lao Tzu

Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.

~ Lao Tzu

Allow the heart to empty itself of all turmoil! Retrieve the utter tranquility of the mind from which you issued.Although all forms are dynamic,and we all grow and transform,each of us is compelled to return to our root. Our root is quietude.

~ Lao Tzu

Trying to understand is like straining through muddy water. Have the patience to wait! Be still and allow the mud to settle.

~ Lao Tzu

Choose food, clothing, and shelter that accords with nature.Rely on your own body for transportation. Allow your work and your recreation to be one and the same. Do exercise that develops your whole being and not just your body. Listen to music that bridges the three spheres of your being. Choose leaders for their virtue rather than their wealth or power. Serve others and cultivate yourself simultaneously. Understand that true growth comes from meeting and solving problems of life in a way that is harmonizing to yourself and to others. If you can follow these simple old ways, you will be continually renewed.

~ Lao Tzu

If the people never fear death,what is the purpose of threatening to kill them?If the people ever fear death,and I were to capture and kill those who are devious,who would dare to be so?If the people must be ever fearful of death,then there will always be an executioner.Now,To kill in place of the executionerIs likeHewing wood in place of the master carpenter;Few indeed will escape cutting their own hands!

~ Lao Tzu

Following the Universal Way means practicing selflessness and extending virtue to the world unconditionally. In this way one not only eliminates the heavy contamination accumulated throughout many lifetimes but may also bring about the possibility of restoring one's original divine nature and become an integral being of the multi-universe.

~ Lao Tzu

Love is a decision - not an emotion!

~ Lao Tzu

Be content with what you have;rejoice in the way things are.When you realize there is nothing lacking,the whole world belongs to you.

~ Lao Tzu

Manifest plainness,Embrace simplicity,Reduce selfishness,Have few desires.

~ Lao Tzu