Quotes from Lao Tzu

Nature is not human hearted.

Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it.

To know yet to think that one does not know is best Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.

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

Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.

If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.

If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.

A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.

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.

He who knows others is learned; He who knows himself is wise.

I have three treasures. Guard and keep them:The first is deep love,The second is frugality,And the third is not to dare to be ahead of the world.Because of deep love, one is courageous.Because of frugality, one is generous.Because of not daring to be ahead of the world, one becomes the leader of the world.

He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.

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.

To lead people, walk beside them ... As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people honor 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!

From caring comes courage.

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

Tao is the storehouse of all things.It is the good man's treasure and the bad man's refuge.

At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.

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

It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. He who does his duty as his own nature reveals it, never sins.

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.

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

The words of truth are always paradoxical.

When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth it is the beginning of disorder.