Quotes from Lao Tzu

Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it.

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.

To lead the people, walk behind them.

In the government of the sage,He keeps their hearts vacuous,Fills their bellies,Weakens their ambitions,And strengthens their bones,He always causes his people to be without knowledge [cunning] or desire,And the crafty to be afraid to act.

To undertake executions for the master executioner [Heaven] is like hewing wood for the master carpenter.Whoever undertakes to hew wood for the master carpenter rarely escapes injuring his own hands.

I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any.

We look at it [Tao] and do not see it;Its name is The Invisible.We listen to it and do not hear it;Its name is The Inaudible.We touch it and do not find it;Its name is The Subtle [formless].

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.

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

Heaven and Earth are not humane.They regard all things as straw dogs.

Truthful words are not beautiful beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive persuasive words are not good.

If the Great Way perishes there will morality and duty. When cleverness and knowledge arise great lies will flourish. When relatives fall out with one another there will be filial duty and love. When states are in confusion there will be faithful servants.

Of all that is good, sublimity is supreme. Succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful. Furtherance is the agreement of all that is just. Perseverance is the foundation of all actions.

Because of a great love, one is courageous.

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.

[The sage] never strives himself for the great, and thereby the great is achieved.

One may know the world without going out of doors.One may see the Way of Heaven without looking through the windows.The further one goes, the less one knows.Therefore the sage knows without going about,Understands without seeing,And accomplishes without any action.

The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.

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.

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.

All things in the world come from being. And being comes from non-being.

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

Friend, never fear dying. Dying is the last, but the least matter that a person has to be anxious about. Fear living, that is a hard battle to fight, a stern discipline to endure, a rough voyage to undergo ! Charles Spurgeon