The Best Lao Tzu quotes

Return animosity with virtue. — Laozi

To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect. — Lao Tzu

The highest virtue seems as low as a valley. — Laozi

He who possess virtue in abundance may be compared to an infant. — Laozi

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

Of all things, none does not revere the Way and honor virtue. Reverence of the Way and honoring virtue were not demanded of them, but it is in their nature. — Laozi

If your virtue is especially radiant, it can be possible to open a pathway to the subtle realm and receive these celestial teachings directly from the immortals. — Laozi

The one who is filled by virtue is like a newborn baby. — Laozi

Being a model to the world, eternal virtue will never falter in you, and you return to the boundless. — Laozi

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. — Laozi

To produce things and To rear them, To produce, but not To take possession of them, To act, but not To rely on one’s own ability, To lead them, but not To master them–this is called profound and secret virtue. — Lao Tzu

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. — Laozi

Giving birth and nourishing, Bearing yet not possessing, Working yet not taking credit, Leading yet not dominating, This is the Primal Virtue. — Laozi

All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small. — Lao Tzu

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. — Laozi

If a great country yields to a small country, it will conquer the small country. If a small country yields to a great country, it will be conquered by the great country. — Laozi

Governing a large state is like boiling a small fish. — Laozi

Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. do not overdo it. — Lao Tzu

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. — Laozi

Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking. — Laozi

A journey of a thousand miles starts in front of your feet. A tower nine stories high is built from a small heap of earth. A journey of a thousand miles starts in front of your feet. — Laozi

Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish–don’t overdo it. — Laozi

Great acts are made up of small deeds. — Lao Tzu

Seeing the small is called clarity. — Laozi

Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish–too much handling will spoil it. — Lao Tzu

You should rule a great country As you would fry a small fish–With the least turning. — Laozi

Seeing the small is called Clarity. Keeping flexible is called Strength. Using the shining Radiance, You enter the Light, Where no harm can come to you. This is called Enlightenment. — Laozi

If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is dim for the light it gives then all will go well. This is called Acting Naturally. — Laozi

Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it — Lao Tzu

Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear. — Lao Tzu

Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear? — Lao Tzu

In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it. — Lao Tzu

Trying to understand is like straining through muddy water. Be still and allow the mud to settle. — Laozi

Highest good is like water. Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to be, it comes closest to the way. — Laozi

One can not reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others. — Lao Tzu

Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself? — Lao Tzu

The best man is like water. water is good it benefits all things and does not compete with Them. it dwells in lowly places that all disdain. this is why it is so near to tao. — Lao Tzu

The highest goodness is like water. water benefits all things and does not compete. it stays in The lowly places which oThers despise. Therefore it is near The eternal. — Lao Tzu

People take death lightly. They expect too much of life. That is why people take death lightly. — Laozi

The surest test if a person be sane, is if she accepts life whole, as it is. — Laozi

To joy in conquest is to joy in the loss of human life. — Laozi

Why do the people think so little of death? Because the rulers demand too much of life. Therefore the people take death lightly. — Laozi

Those who have hardened, have a covenant with Death. Those who remain gentle are conjoined with Life. — Laozi

If you correct your mind the rest of your life will fall into place. — Laozi

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. — Laozi

A brave and passionate man will kill or be killed. A brave and calm man will always preserve life. Of these two which is good and which is harmful? — Laozi

Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force. — Lao Tzu

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

Who acts in stillness finds stillness in his life. — Lao Tzu

In the end, the treasure of life is missed by those who hold on and gained by those who let go. — Lao Tzu

Truly, only acting without thought of one’s life is superior to valuing one’s life. — Laozi

Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides. — Lao Tzu

The new life created by the final integration is self–aware yet without ego, capable of inhabiting a body yet not attached to it, and guided by wisdom rather than emotion. Whole and virtuous, it can never die. — Laozi

Things flourish, then each returns to its root. Returning to the root is called stillness: Stillness is called return to life, return to life is called the constant; knowing the constant is called enlightenment. — Laozi

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. — Laozi

One who lives in accordance with nature does not go against the way of things but moves in harmony with the present moment. — Laozi

In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present. — Lao Tzu

Approach your own inner life with a loving quality that accepts who you are without trying to change who you are. — Laozi

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them–that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. — Lao Tzu

Man is ruled by Earth. Earth is ruled by Heaven. Heaven is ruled by the Way. The Way is ruled by itself. — Laozi

Heaven is eternal and Earth everlasting. They can be eternal and everlasting because they do not exist for themselves, And for this reason can exist forever. — Laozi

Heaven and Earth are not kind. They regard all things as offerings. — Laozi

Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its being what it is. — Lao Tzu

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

A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth. — Laozi

Heaven is long–enduring, and earth continues long. The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves. — Lao Tzu

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. — Laozi

Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the various creatures as straw dogs; the sage is ruthless, and treats others as straw dogs. — Laozi

Is not the space between Heaven and Earth like a bellows? It is empty, but lacks nothing. The more it moves, the more comes out of it. — Laozi

A tree trunk the size of a man grows from a blade as thin as a hair. A tower nine stories high is built from a small heap of earth. — Laozi

The tree which needs two arms to span its girth sprang from the tiniest shoot. Yon tower, nine stories high, rose from a little mound of earth. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. — Laozi

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. — Laozi

Without going outside, you may know the whole world! — Laozi

All things in the world come from being. And being comes from non–being. — Lao Tzu

In the world there are four greats, and the king is one of them. — Laozi

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

The way of heaven does not compete, and yet it skillfully achieves victory. it does not speak, and yet it skillfully responds to things. it comes to you without your invitation. — Lao Tzu

The way of heaven is to benefit oThers and not to injure. The way of The sage is to act but not to compete. — Lao Tzu

Can you open and close the gate of Heaven and act like a woman? — Laozi

The net of heaven is very wide in its meshes, and yet it misses nothing. — Laozi

Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The less one knows. — Lao Tzu

Ambition has one heel nailed in well, though she stretch her fingers to touch the heavens. — Lao Tzu

Purity and stillness give the correct law to all under heaven. — Laozi

Great indeed is the sublimity of the Creative, to which all beings owe their beginning and which permeates all heaven. — Lao Tzu