Laozi Quotes:

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

Topics: Positive, Powerful, May, Personal Power, Power And Control

Mastering others is strength. Mastering oneself makes you fearless.

Topics: Inspirational, Fearless, Oneself

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.

Topics: Wisdom, Self Confidence, Knowing, Spiritual Enlightenment, Knowing Others

Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear.

Topics: Inspirational, Dangerous, Hollow, Feet On The Ground, Tao Te Ching Leadership

If you can let go of (the Tao) with your mind and surround it with your heart, it will live inside you forever.

Topics: Letting Go, Heart, Forever

Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame. Therefore the Master fulfills her own obligations and corrects her own mistakes. She does what she needs to do and demands nothing of others.

Topics: Mistake, Opportunity, Doe, Blame Someone

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

Topics: Inspirational, Add, Each Day, Spiritual Awakening, Spiritual Wisdom

A journey of 1000 miles begins with one step.

Topics: Journey, Fortune Cookie, Steps, Single Step

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

Topics: Beauty, Beautiful, Truth Is, Beautiful Words

In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple.

Topics: Simple, Thinking, Dwelling, Work Family, Tao Ching

The more you know the less you understand.

Topics: Taoism, Lack Of Empathy, Aboriginal, Mlm, Spiritual Beings

People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge.

Topics: People, Taoism, Too Much

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

Topics: Love, Relationship, Positive, Touch Someone, Courage To Change

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

Topics: Inspirational, Travel, Arriving, Journey And Destination, Journey Home

Goodness in words creates trust, goodness in thinking creates depth, goodness in giving creates love.

Topics: Thinking, Giving, Taoism

Throw away profit and greed, and there won't be any thieves.

Topics: Greed, Thieves, Profit

The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.

Topics: Flames, Long, Half, Prodigal Son, Tao Ching

The generals have a saying: "Rather than make the first move it is better to wait and see. Rather than advance an inch it is better to retreat a yard." This is called going forward without advancing, pushing back without using weapons. There is no greater misfortune than underestimating your enemy. Underestimating your enemy means thinking that he is evil. Thus you destroy your three treasures and become an enemy yourself. When two great forces oppose each other, the victory will go to the one that knows how to yield.

source: - Mikhail Bulgakov (2016). “THE MASTER AND MARGARITA: 50th-Anniversary Edition (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)”, p.67, Penguin

Topics: Moving, Mean, Thinking, Pushing Back

He who hoards much loses much.

Topics: Simplicity

If lightning is the anger of the gods, then the gods are concerned mostly about trees.

Topics: Tree, Lightning, Concerned

Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory. - Diane Arbus By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning.

Topics: Winning, Giving, Victory, Just Let It Go, Trying To Let Go

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

Topics: Inspirational, Knowing, Know Yourself, Personal Power, Spiritual Wisdom

Ancient masters of excellence had a subtle essence, and a depth too profound to comprehend.

Topics: Essence, Profound, Taoism

The ancients said: Hulk to be whole.

Topics: Taoism, Said

I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second 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.

Topics: Leadership, Humility, Men, Frugality, Inspiring Leader

He who gains a victory over other men is strong; but he who gains a victory over himself is all powerful.

Topics: Strong, Powerful, Men, Bboy

Because of a great love, one is courageous.

Topics: Anniversary, Great Love, Courageous

The best fighter is never angry.

Topics: Yoga, Fighter, Angry, Martial Artist, Anger Inside

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.

Topics: Knives, Blunt, Approach, Kitchen Knives, Spills

A good traveler leaves no tracks. Good speech lacks fault-finding.

Topics: Track, Speech, Fault Finding

Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity

Topics: Inspirational, Secret, Eternity

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

Topics: Inspirational, Relationship, Wise, Just Being Me, Just Being You

There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.

Topics: Opponents, Underestimate, Danger

Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habit.

Topics: Motivational, Wisdom, Determination, Journey To Success, Inspirational Achievement

You will understand a great truth when you get to realize that what you do to others, you are doing to yourself.

Topics: Realizing

One who believes in himself has no need to convince others.

Topics: Believe, Needs, Convince

If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself, if you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.

source: - Laozi, Brian Browne Walker (1992). “Hua Hu Ching: Teachings of Lao Tzu”

Topics: Spiritual, Wisdom, Self, Self Transformation

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.

Topics: Life, Change, Spiritual, Way In Life, Natural Things

New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.

Topics: Cancer, New Beginnings, Hard Times, Beginnings And Endings

If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.

Topics: Inspirational, Learning, Tao Te Ching, Knowing Others, Tao Ching

Those who know do not talk. Those who talk do not know.

source: - Laozi, Lao-Tzu, Stephen Addiss, Stanley Lombardo (2007). “Tao Te Ching”, p.55, Shambhala Publications

Topics: Education, Tao Te Ching, Intelligence, Sharpness, Tao Te Ching Leadership

If you understand others you are smart. If you understand yourself you are illuminated. If you overcome others you are powerful. If you overcome yourself you have strength. If you know how to be satisfied you are rich. If you can act with vigor, you have a will. If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting. If you die without loss, you are eternal.

Topics: Powerful, Smart, Loss

The past has no power to stop you from being present now. Only your grievance about the past can do that. What is grievance? The baggage of old thought and emotion.

Topics: Past, Baggage, Emotion, Thoughts And Emotions, New Earth

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

Topics: Inspirational, Sports, Athlete

We are all capable of much more than we think we are.

Topics: Healing, Thinking, Humanity

Be empty. Be still. Just watch everything come and go. This is the way of Nature.

Topics: Nature, Watches, Way

In order to eliminate the negative influences, simply ignore them.

Topics: Order, Negative, Negative Influence

Have patience. Wait until the mud settles and the water is clear. Remain unmoving until right action arises by itself.

Topics: Encouraging, Positivity, Water, Right Action

For knowledge, add something every day. For wisdom....subtract.

Topics: Add

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.

Topics: Uplifting, Confidence, Motivation, Greatest Treasure, Great Confidence

The wise stand out because they see themselves as part of the Whole. They shine because they don't want to impress. They achieve great things because they don't look for recognition. Their wisdom is contained in what they are, not their opinions. They refuse to argue, so no-one argues with them.

Topics: Relationship, Wise, Spiritual

Make your heart like a lake, with calm, still surface, and great depths of kindness.

Topics: Inspirational, Kindness, Heart, Soft Heart, Good Heart

True words are not pleasing. Pleasing words are not true.

Topics: Knowledge, Taoism, True Words

Knowing that you do not know is the best. Not knowing that you do not know is an illness.

Topics: Knowledge, Knowing, Taoism

See simplicity in the complicated. Achieve greatness in little things

source: - Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

Topics: Badass, Greatness, Simplicity, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Those who are right do not argue. Those who argue are not right.

Topics: Knowledge, Taoism, Arguing, Wise Man Once Said, Disagreement

In the end, The treasure of life is missed by those who hold on and gained by those who let go

source: - Laozi (2005). “Tao te ching: a new translation & commentary”

Topics: Inspirational, Letting Go, Treasure

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.

Topics: Weed, Dream, Opportunity For Success, Life And Dreams, Nurturing

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

Topics: Inspirational, Motivational, Patience, Life Is Simple, Greatest Treasure

Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner.

Topics: Not Caring, People, Tao Te Ching, Tao Ching, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Sometimes gain comes from losing, and sometimes loss comes from gaining.

Topics: Loss, Taoism, Gains

If you search everywhere, yet cannot find what you are seeking, it is because what you seek is already in your possession.

Topics: Wisdom, Tao Te Ching, Taoism, Wise Words

Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here.

Topics: Goal, Moments, Positive Future

Chanting is no more holy than listening to the murmur of a stream, counting prayer beads no more sacred than simply breathing. . . . If you wish to attain oneness with the Tao, don't get caught up in spiritual superficialities.

source: - Laozi, Brian Browne Walker (1992). “Hua Hu Ching: Teachings of Lao Tzu”

Topics: Spiritual, Prayer, Breathing, Prayer Beads, Beads

You cannot receive what you don't give. Outflow determines inflow.

Topics: Giving, Determine, Withholding

If you never assume importance, you never lose it.

Topics: Assuming, Assumption, Never Assume

Free from desire, you realize the mystery, caught in the desire, you see only the manifestations.

Topics: Tao Te Ching, Desire, Mystery, Book Of Tao

People aren't against you; they are for themselves. The most dangerous risk of all - the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later. He who conquers others is strong, he who conquers himself is mighty.

Topics: Strong, People, Risk, Strength In Hard Times, Laos

The master accomplishes more and more by doing less and less until finally he accomplishes everything by doing nothing.

Topics: Doing Nothing, Masters, Accomplish

The real key to health and happiness and success is self knowledge

Topics: Real, Self, Keys

Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness.

Topics: Life, Wise, Wisdom, Softness, Hardness

Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time' is to say 'I don't want to.'

Topics: Inspirational, Time, Want, Don't Waste My Time, Don't Waste Time

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.

Topics: Life, Happiness, Spiritual, Life Is Simple, Discovering Yourself

Kind words elicit trust. Kind thoughts create depth. Kind deeds bring love.

Topics: Kindness, Kind Thoughts, Kind Deeds

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

source: - Laozi, Brian Browne Walker (1992). “Hua Hu Ching: Teachings of Lao Tzu”

Topics: Happiness, Pain, Ego

Stop leaving and you will arrive, Stop searching and you will see, Stop running away and you will be found.

Topics: Inspirational, Running, Spiritual

If the majority doesn't laugh at you, beware that you must be saying something wrong. When the majority thinks you are a fool, only then is there some possibility of you being a wise man.

Topics: Wise, Men, Thinking

Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.

Topics: Meditation, Feel Good, Taoism, Spiritual Awareness, Being Busy

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

source: - "The Book of the Simple Way of Laotze: A New Translation from the Text of the Tao-teh-king".

Topics: Journey, Fortune Cookie, Steps, Journey Of A Thousand Miles

Perfection is the willingness to be imperfect.

Topics: Perfection, Taoism, Imperfect

You cannot know the body by studying the finger, and you cannot understand the universe by learning one science.

source: - Laozi, Brian Browne Walker (1992). “Hua Hu Ching: Teachings of Lao Tzu”

Topics: Body, Study, Fingers

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

Topics: Inspirational, Change, Spiritual, Tao Wisdom, Book Of Tao

Rule your mind with serenity rather than with force and manipulation.

Topics: Serenity, Mind, Taoism

Before healing others, heal yourself

Topics: Healing, Health, Heal

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

source: - Laozi, Brian Browne Walker (1992). “Hua Hu Ching: Teachings of Lao Tzu”

Topics: Inspirational, Life, Positive

If you are at peace, you are living in the present.

Topics: Tao Te Ching, Past Present Future, Anxiety Depression, Depression And Anxiety, Present Life

Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.

source: - Laozi (2008). “Daodejing: A Literal-critical Translation”, University Press of Amer

Topics: Evil, Giving, Tao Te Ching, Tao Wisdom, Book Of Tao

Stop thinking, and end your problems.

Topics: Thinking, Tao Te Ching, Taoism, Yes And No, Overthinking

Those who understand others are clever, those who understand themselves are wise.

Topics: Wise, Clever, Knowledge

If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never be truly fulfilled.

Topics: Spiritual, Helping Others, Looks, Million Little Pieces, Being Happy With Yourself

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

Topics: Life, Spiritual, Self Esteem, Positive Affirmations, Tao Wisdom

Only fools seek power, and the greatest fools seek it through force.

Topics: Peace, War, Fool

The best of all teachers is the one who helps people so that eventually they don't need him.

Topics: Teacher, People, Needs

If there is to be peace in the world, There must be peace in the nations. If there is to be peace in the nations, There must be peace in the cities. If there is to be peace in the cities, There must be peace between neighbors. If there is to be peace between neighbors, There must be peace in the home. If there is to be peace in the home, There must be peace in the heart.

Topics: Peace, Home, Heart, Wise Man Once Said, Peace Of Heart

Leadership is your ability to hide your panic from others.

Topics: Leadership, Panic, Great Leader, Funny Leadership

Intelligent people know others. Enlightened people know themselves.

Topics: Intelligent, People, Taoism

Whatever one cultivates, is what one becomes.

Topics: Art, Martial Arts

If you want everything, you first have to give everything up.

Topics: Hard Times, Giving, Want

When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

Topics: Inspirational, Education, Wisdom, Live And Learn, Appearing

In dwelling, be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart. In dealing with others, be gentle and kind. In speech, be true. In ruling, be just. In daily life, be competent. In action, be aware of the time and the season.

Topics: Heart, Land, Dwelling, Tao Ching

There is no illusion great than fear.

Topics: Fear, Illusion

Loss is not as bad as wanting more.

Topics: Loss, Taoism, Wanting More

Simply see that you are at the center of the universe, and accept all things and beings as parts of your infinite body. When you perceive that an act done to another is done to yourself, you have understood the great truth.

source: - Laozi, Brian Browne Walker (1992). “Hua Hu Ching: Teachings of Lao Tzu”

Topics: Apology, Done, Body, Center Of The Universe

A tree that is unbending, is easily broken.

source: - Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

Topics: Broken Heart, Acceptance, Tree

The greatest revelation is stillness.

Topics: Revelations, Stillness

Nothing and no one in the world is valuable or worthless.

Topics: World, Valuable, Worthless

Be content with an ordinary life.

Topics: Ordinary, Ordinary Life

When you accept yourself, the Universe accepts you.

Topics: Accepting Yourself, Accepting, Universe

Use the light that is in you to recover your natural clearness of sight

Topics: Light, Sight, Over You, Clearness

No weapon is sharper than will.

Topics: Weapons

The sage is sharp but does not cut, pointed but does not pierce, forthright but does not offend, bright but does not dazzle.

Topics: Cutting, Taoism, Doe

Eliminate mental muddiness and obscurity; keep your mind crystal clear. Allow your pure original insight to emerge. Quiet your emotions and abide in serenity. Don't go crazy with the worship of idols, images, and ideas; this is like putting a new head on top of the head you already have. Remember: if you can cease all restless activity, your integral nature will appear.

Topics: Nature, Crazy, Idols

He who controls the past controls the future.

Topics: Future, Past, Political Language, Power And Control, Looking To The Future

Develop the strength of a man, but live as gently as a woman

Topics: Men

To know that you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease.

Topics: Book, Ignorance, Knowledge

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

Topics: Arrogance, Accomplish, Shows, Grabbing

True words aren't eloquent; eloquent words aren't true. Wise men don't need to prove their point; men who need to prove their point aren't wise. The Master has no possessions. The more he does for others, the happier he is. The more he gives to others, the wealthier he is. The Tao nourishes by not forcing. By not dominating, the Master leads.

Topics: Leadership, Wise, Men, Tao Te Ching Leadership, Book Of Tao

There is no greater offence than harbouring desires. There is no greater disaster than discontent. There is no greater misfortune than wanting more.

Topics: Inspirational, Desire, Wanting More

Do not look only at yourself, and you will see much. Do not justify yourself, and you will be distinguished. Do not brag, and you will have merit. Do not be prideful, and your work will endure.

Topics: Inspirational, Looks, Merit

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

Topics: Moving, Doe, Way

He who is attached to things will suffer much.

source: - Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

Topics: Suffering, Tao Te Ching Leadership

There is no greater sin than desire, No greater curse than discontent, No greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself. Therefore he who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

source: - Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

Topics: Desire, Sin, Enough, Enough Is Enough

The wise are not learned, the learned are not wise.

source: - Laozi, Lao-Tzu, Stephen Addiss, Stanley Lombardo (2007). “Tao Te Ching”, p.81, Shambhala Publications

Topics: Life, Wise, Learning, Tao Of Pooh

A good athlete can enter a state of body-awareness in which the right stroke or the right movement happens by itself, effortlessly, without any interference of the conscious will. This is a paradigm for non-action: the purest and most effective form of action. The game plays the game; the poem writes the poem; we can't tell the dancer from the dance. It happens when we trust the intelligence of the universe in the same way that an athlete or a dancer trusts the superior intelligence of the body.

Topics: Writing, Athlete, Games, Superior Intelligence, Good Athlete

Every human being's essential nature is perfect and faultless, but after years of immersion in the world we easily forget our roots and take on a counterfeit nature.

Topics: Positivity, Years, Roots, Immersion

What resists, persists.

Topics: Persist

Face the simple fact before it comes involved. Solve the small problem before it becomes big.

Topics: Inspirational, Simple, Small Problems

Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail.

Topics: Inspirational, Life, Death, Supple, Tao Ching

Observe how endings become beginnings.

Topics: Tao Te Ching, Tao Ching, Tao Wisdom, Tao Te Ching Leadership

From wonder into wonder existence opens.

source: - "The Way of Life, According to Laotzu" by Witter Bynner, 1944.

Topics: Inspirational, Taoism, Awakening

A great nation is like a great man:When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.Having realized it, he admits it.Having admitted it, he corrects it.He considers those who point out his faultsas his most benevolent teachers.He thinks of his enemyas the shadow that he himself casts.

Topics: Teacher, Mistake, Men, Tao Ching, Tao Te Ching Leadership

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.

Topics: Inspirational, Life And Love, Failure, No Failure

When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.

Topics: Relationship, Respect, Being Yourself, Respect Women, Women Self Respect

The words of truth are always paradoxical. To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.

Topics: Mind, Surrender, Paradoxical

The wise man doesn't compete; therefore nobody can compete with him.

Topics: Wise, Men, Competition

A tree that cannot bend will crack in the wind. Thus by nature's own decree, the soft and gentle are triumphant.

Topics: Wind, Tree, Cracks, Unyielding

Life is going forth; death is returning home.

source: - Lao Tzu, Laozi, Tom Butler-Bowdon (2012). “Tao Te Ching: The Ancient Classic”, p.105, John Wiley & Sons

Topics: Death, Home, Life Is, Returning Home

The usefulness of a pot comes from its emptiness.

Topics: Emptiness, Pot, Usefulness

That the soft overcomes the hard, and the yielding overcomes the resistant, is a fact known by all, but practiced by few.

Topics: Overcoming, Facts, Known

I have three treasures which I hold and keep. The first is mercy; the second is economy. The third is daring not to be ahead of others. From mercy comes courage; from economy comes generosity; From humility comes leadership.

source: - Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

Topics: Humility, Generosity, Treasure, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Speaking with kindness creates confidence, thinking with kindness creates profoundness, giving with kindness creates love.

Topics: Relationship, Kindness, Communication

Strong winds do not last all morning, hard rains do not last all day.

Topics: Strong, Morning, Rain, Strong Winds

Acting without design, occupying oneself without making a business of it, finding the great in what is small and the many in the few, repaying injury with kindness, effecting difficult things while they are easy, and managing great things in their beginnings; this is the method of Tao.

source: - Laozi, Sepharial (1904). “The Book of the Simple Way of Laotze: A New Translation from the Text of the Tao-teh-king”

Topics: Kindness, Business, Design, Repaying

Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return. Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source. Returning to the source is serenity. If you don't realize the source, you stumble in confusion and sorrow. When you realize where you come from, you naturally become tolerant, disinterested, amused, kindhearted as a grandmother, dignified as a king. Immersed in the wonder of the Tao, you can deal with whatever life brings you, and when death comes, you are ready.

Topics: Kings, Heart, Grandmother

The wise man, after learning something new, is afraid to learn anything more until he has put his first lesson into practice.

Topics: Wise, Meaningful, Men, Learning Something New

The mark of a moderate man is freedom from his own ideas. Tolerant like the sky, all-pervading like sunlight, firm like a mountain, supple like a tree in the wind, he has no destination in view and makes use of anything life happens to bring his way.

Topics: Inspirational, Men, Views

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

Topics: Inspirational, Life, Motivational, Time To Move On, Discovering Yourself

How do I become still? By flowing with the stream.

Topics: Streams, Stills

If you attach yourself to gross energies - loving this person, hating that clan, rejecting one experience or habitually indulging in another - then you will lead a series of heavy, attached lives. This can go on for a very long and tedious time.

source: - Laozi, Brian Browne Walker (1992). “Hua Hu Ching: Teachings of Lao Tzu”

Topics: Life, Hate, Long, Clans

Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river.

Topics: Rivers, Taoism, Mountain

Whatever is flexible and living will tend to grow; whatever is rigid and blocked will wither and die.

Topics: Love, Inspirational, Blocked

Understand this if nothing else: spiritual freedom and oneness with the Tao are not randomly bestowed gifts, but the rewards of conscious self-transformation and self-evolution.

Topics: Spiritual, Self, Oneness, Spiritual Freedom

To be learned, add something each day. To be enlightened drop something each day.

Topics: Add, Each Day, Enlightened

All action begins in rest... This is the ultimate truth.

Topics: Action, Ultimate Truth, Ultimate

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

Topics: Inspirational, Taoism, Needs

He who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn't go far. He who tries to shine dims his own light. He who defines himself can't know who he really is. He who has power over others can't empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures.

Topics: Inspirational, Light, Empowering, Tiptoes, Power Over Others

Deal with difficult tasks while they are easy. Act on large issues while they are small.

Topics: Life, Issues, Tasks, Difficult Tasks, Small Life

The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end of your days.

Topics: Powerful, Heart, Understanding, Trust Your Intuition, Intuitive

The soft and weak can overcome the hard and strong.

source: - "Tao Tê Ching".

Topics: Strong, Taoism, Overcoming

All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power. If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. If you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them. The Master is above the people, and no one feels oppressed. She goes ahead of the people, and no one feels manipulated. The whole world is grateful to her. Because she competes with no one, no one can compete with her.

Topics: Leadership, Grateful, Humility

A good manager is best when people barely know that he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him.

Topics: Leadership, People, Good Man, Leadership Courage, Leadership Training

Once upon a time a man whose ax was missing suspected his neighbor's son. The boy walked like a thief, looked like a thief and spoke like a thief. But the man found his ax while digging in the valley, and the next time he saw his neighbor's son, the boy walked, looked and spoke like any other child.

Topics: Children, Son, Boys, Next Time

If you worry more for others' beliefs, then you will be their slave.

Topics: Worry, Taoism, Belief

A good person is the bad person's teacher. A bad person is the good person's task.

Topics: Teacher, Knowledge, Taoism

So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind; Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily; Sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness; Sometimes one is up and sometimes down. Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complacency.

source: - Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

Topics: Strength, Breathing, Balance, Tao Ching, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Wise men hear and see as little children do.

Topics: Wise, Children, Men

The Master observes the world, but trusts his inner vision. He allows things to come and go. His heart is as open as the sky.

Topics: Heart, Sky, Taoism

Allow your softer, more intuitive, and less dominating feminine qualities to rise to the fore, so that you're surrendering rather than dominating, receiving rather than broadcasting, loving rather than fighting.

Topics: Fighting, Taoism, Quality, Dominating

The value of teaching without words and accomplishing without action is understood by few in the world.

Topics: Teaching, Taoism, World

Give up your relentless moralizing, the continual pinpricks which pierce the skin of your fellows. The distinction between good and evil is the sickness of the mind. Give up your morals, and the people will regain a love of their fellows.

Topics: Love, Giving Up, People, Moralizing

As long as we have hope, we have direction, the energy to move, and the map to move by. We have a hundred alternatives, a thousand paths and an infinity of dreams. Hopeful, we are halfway to where we want to go; hopeless, we are lost forever.

Topics: Dream, Moving, Long

Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. 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.

Topics: Change, Happiness, Appreciation, Being Happy With Yourself, Happy With Yourself

The value of actions lies in their timing.

Topics: Lying, Achievement, Action

The best leaders are those their people hardly know exist. The next best is a leader who is loved and praised. Next comes the one who is feared. The worst one is the leader that is despised ... The best leaders value their words, and use them sparingly. When they have accomplished their task, the people say, "Amazing! We did it, all by ourselves!

Topics: People, Leader, Tao Te Ching, Tao Ching, Tao Te Ching Leadership

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

Topics: Patience, Knowledge, Water

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Topics: Inspirational, Life, Motivational, Natural Things, Spiritual Beauty

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.

Topics: Inspirational, Growing Up, Keys, Spiritual Awareness, Deep Life

It is as though he listened and such listening as his enfolds us in silence in which at last we begin to hear what we are meant to be.

Topics: Silence, Listening, Lasts

If a person seems wicked, do not cast him away. Awaken him with your words, elevate him with your deeds, repay his injury with your kindness. Do not cast him away; cast away his wickedness.

Topics: Spiritual, Kindness, Wicked, Cast Away, Words Of Kindness

Prepare for the difficult while it is still easy. Deal with the big while it is still small. Difficult undertakings have always started with what easy. Great undertakings always started with what is small. Therefore the sage never strives for the great,And thereby the great is achieved.

Topics: Character, Sage, Easy

To see things in the seed, that is genius.

Topics: Nature, Educational, Intelligence, Planting Seeds, Sowing Seeds

Thirty spokes meet in the hub, but the empty space between them is the essence of the wheel. Pots are formed from clay, but the empty space within it is the essence of the pot. Walls with windows and doors form the house, but the empty space within it is the essence of the home.

Topics: Wall, Home, Essence, Space Between, Windows And Doors

Filling life exceedingly is called ominous.

Topics: Taoism, Filling, Ominous

Can you comprehend everything in the four directions and still do nothing?

Topics: Taoism, Four, Stills

If people are not afraid of dying, why threaten them with death?

Topics: People, Taoism, Dying

Most of the world's religions serve only to strengthen attachments to false concepts such as self and other, life and death, heaven and earth, and so on. Those who become entangled in these false ideas are prevented from perceiving the Integral Oneness.

source: - Laozi, Brian Browne Walker (1992). “Hua Hu Ching: Teachings of Lao Tzu”

Topics: Life, Attachment, Self

Softness triumphs over hardness, feebleness over strength. What is more malleable is always superior over that which is immoveable. This is the principle of controlling things by going along with them, of mastery through adaptation.

Topics: Triumph, Principles, Mastery, Judo, Softness

If you tell me, I will listen. If you show me, I will see. If you let me experience, I will learn!

Topics: Show Me, Let Me, Shows

The biggest in the world is small in its beginning.

Topics: Taoism, World, World Is Small

Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short and long, life and death? Can you let go of all these dualities and embrace the Tao without skepticism or panic? If so, you can reach the heart of the Integral Oneness.

source: - Laozi, Brian Browne Walker (1992). “Hua Hu Ching: Teachings of Lao Tzu”

Topics: Letting Go, Heart, Self, Duality

Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.

Topics: Difficult And Easy, Effectiveness, Risk, Chinese Philosopher

The ego is entranced by ... names and ideas... However names and concepts only block your perception of this Great Oneness. Therefore it is wise to ignore them. Those who live inside their egos are continually bewildered.

Topics: Wise, Block, Names

There is no greater crime than desire.

Topics: Taoism, Desire, Crime

What is and what is not create each other.

Topics: Taoism

The superior student listens to the Way and follows it closely. The average student listens to the Way and follows some and some not. The lesser student listens to the Way and laughs out loud. If there were no laughter it would not be the Way.

Topics: Laughter, Knowledge, Average, Laugh Out Loud

Do you think that you can clear your mind by sitting constantly in silent meditation? This makes your mind narrow, not clear. Integral awareness is fluid and adaptable, present in all places and at all times. That is true meditation. ... The Tao is clear and simple, and it doesn't avoid the world.

source: - Laozi, Brian Browne Walker (1992). “Hua Hu Ching: Teachings of Lao Tzu”

Topics: Simple, Thinking, Meditation, Adaptable, Silent Meditation

To know and not to do is not yet to know.

Topics: Knows

Quiet your mind and stop judging and resisting and manipulating the natural way.

Topics: Judging, Mind, Taoism, Resisting

When you let go of what you are, you become what you might be.

Topics: Inspirational, Motivational, Letting Go, Trans

Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.

Topics: Inspirational, Confidence, Self Esteem, Inspiring Self Esteem, Old Self