Lao Tzu Quotes

210 Sourced Quotes

The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, Having bestowed all he has on others, he has yet more; having given all he has to others, he is richer still.

Lao Tzu
Not all spiritual paths lead to the harmonious Oneness. Indeed, most are detours and distractions, nothing more.

Lao Tzu
Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. The way of nature is unchanging. Knowing constancy is insight.

Lao Tzu
Going back to the origin is called peace; it means reversion to destiny. Reversion to destiny is called eternity. Those who know eternity are called enlightened.

Lao Tzu
The Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to yin and yang. Yin and yang give birth to all things... The complete whole is the complete whole. So also is any part the complete whole... But forget about understanding and harmonizing and making all things one. The universe is already a harmonious oneness; just realize it.

Lao Tzu
He who defends with love will be secure; Heaven will save him, and protect him with love.

Lao Tzu
Know honor, Yet keep humility. Be the valley of the universe! Being the valley of the universe, Ever true and resourceful, Return to the state of the uncarved block.

Lao Tzu
When the worst student hears about the Way, he laughs out loud. If he did not laugh, it would be unworthy of being the Way.

Lao Tzu
Too much success is not an advantage.
Do not tinkle like jade
Or clatter like stone chimes.

Lao Tzu
Know the white, But keep the black, Be an example to the world! Being an example to the world, Ever true and unwavering, Return to the infinite.

Lao Tzu
Knowing ignorance is strength; ignoring knowledge is sickness.

Lao Tzu
Keep your mouth shut, and close up the doors of sight and sound, and as long as you live you will have no vexation. But open your mouth, or become inquisitive, and you will be in trouble all your life long.

Lao Tzu
When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one embrace, they can be kept from separating.

Lao Tzu
Something mysteriously formed, Born before heaven and earth. In the silence and the void, Standing alone and unchanging, Ever present and in motion.

Lao Tzu
I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct.

Lao Tzu
The one who can dissolve her mind will suddenly discover the Tao at her feet...

Lao Tzu
The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout...

Lao Tzu
He who regards the world as he does the fortune of his own body can govern the world. He who loves the world as he does his own body can be entrusted with the world.

Lao Tzu
To consider this desirable would be to delight in the slaughter of men; and he who delights in the slaughter of men cannot get his will in the kingdom.

Lao Tzu
Those who know do not speak; Those who speak do not know. Stop up the openings, Close down the doors, Rub off the sharp edges. Unravel all confusion. Harmonize the light, Give up contention: This is called finding the unity of life.

Lao Tzu
The sense organs, which are limited in scope and ability, randomly gather information. This partial information is arranged into judgments, which are based on previous judgments, which are usually based on someone else's foolish ideas. These false concepts and ideas are then stored in a highly selective memory system.

Lao Tzu
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.

Lao Tzu
He who has little will receive. He who has much will be embarrassed.

Lao Tzu
Mask your brightness. Be at one with the dust of the earth. This is primal union.

Lao Tzu
Why separate your spiritual life and your practical life? To an integral being, there is no such distinction.

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

Lao Tzu
Without going out-of-doors, one can know all he needs to know. Without even looking out of his window, one can grasp the nature of everything. Without going beyond his own nature, one can achieve ultimate wisdom. Therefore, the intelligent man knows all he needs to know without going away, And sees all he needs to see without looking elsewhere, And does all he needs to do wihout undue exertion.

Lao Tzu
To realize that our knowledge is ignorance, This is a noble insight. To regard our ignorance as knowledge, This is mental sickness. Only when we are sick of the sickness Shall we cease to be sick. The Sage is not sick, being sick of sickness; This is the secret of health.

Lao Tzu
Pain and happiness are simply conditions of the ego. Forget the ego.

Lao Tzu
Those who are highly evolved, maintain an undiscriminating perception. Seeing everything, labeling nothing, they maintain their awareness of the Great Oneness. Thus they are supported by it.

Lao Tzu