Quotes by Lao Tzu

Thirty spokesShare one hub.Make the nothing therein appropriate, and you will have the use of the cart.

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

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.

Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them. Startwith what they know. Build with what they have. But with the bestleaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people willsay We have done this ourselves.

The ruler attains wholeness in the correct governance of the people.

To lead people, you must follow behind.

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.

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

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

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.

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

The Master doesnt 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.

The Way to do is to be.

When there is silence one finds the anchor of the universe within oneself

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.

If you are untrustworthy, people will not trust you.

One gains by losing and loses by gaining.

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.

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.

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