Lao Tzu Quotes

“As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people honour and praise. The next, the people fear and the next, the people hate. When the best leader’s work is done, the people say 'We did it ourselves'.”

“The biggest problem in the world could have been solved when it was small.”

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

“A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.”

“An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.”

“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success.”

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

“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.”

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

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

“He who knows he has enough is rich.”

“He who knows others is clever; He who knows himself has discernment.”

“He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.”

“If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.”

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you’re heading.”

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

“Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.”

“Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results.”

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

“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.”

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

“Our enemies are not demons, but human beings like ourselves.”

“People in their handlings of affairs often fail when they are about to succeed. If one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning, there will be no failure.”

“Stop thinking, and end your problems.”

“The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long.”

“The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.”

“The sage does not accumulate for himself. The more he uses for others, the more he has himself. The more he gives to others, the more he has himself.”

“The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.”

“The way of the sage is to act but not to compete.”

“To become learned, each day add something.
To become enlightened, each day drop something”

“To lead the people, walk behind them.”

“To see things in the seed, that is genius.”

“Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

“What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.”

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.”

“The sage shuns excess, shuns grandiosity, shuns arrogance.”

“Therefore the Master
acts without doing anything
and teaches without saying anything.
Things arise and she lets them come;
things disappear and she lets them go.
She has but doesn’t possess,
acts but doesn’t expect.
When her work is done, she forgets it.
That is why it lasts forever.”