Lao Tzu

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

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

The hard and mighty lie beneath the ground while the tender and weak dance on the breeze above.

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

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

Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.

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

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

Nature is not human hearted.

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; the Named is the mother of all things.

He who tries to shine dims his own light.

To lead people walk behind them.

Because of a great love, one is courageous.

Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.

He who knows himself is enlightened.

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.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

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

The people are hungry. It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes.

He who conquers others is strong He who conquers himself is mighty.

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.

The career of a sage is of two kinds: He is either honored by all in the world, Like a flower waving its head, Or else he disappears into the silent forest.

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

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.

To lead the people, walk behind them.

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.

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

The higher the sun ariseth, the less shadow doth he cast; even so the greater is the goodness, the less doth it covet praise; yet cannot avoid its rewards in honours.

When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'

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

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.

He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know.

If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.

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.

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

A foolish man is always doingYet much remains to be done.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.

He who is in harmony with the Tao is like a newborn child. Its bones are soft its muscles are weak but its grip is powerful.

There are many paths to enlightenment. Be sure to take one with a heart.

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. Through this I know the advantage of taking no action.

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

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.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

The more laws and order are made prominent the more thieves and robbers there will be.

To see things in the seed, that is genius.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

He who talks more is sooner exhausted.

Nothing is softer or more flexible than water yet nothing can resist it.

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

He who defends with love will be secure. Heaven will save him and protect him with love.

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.

If you do not change direction you may end up where you are heading.

Love is of all passions the strongest for it attacks simultaneously the head the heart and the senses.

The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

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

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.

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.

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

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.

Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are headed.

Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.

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

He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.

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.

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.

He who does not trust enough will not be trusted.

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.

Failure is the foundation of success and the means by which it is achieved.

Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity.

He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much.

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.

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

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

He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty.

To know when you have enough is to be rich beyond measure.

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

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

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

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

Those who are self-righteous are not prominent.

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.

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

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

Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart, and the senses.

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Dont resist them that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.

Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.

How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?

The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.

Silence is a source of great strength.

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.

There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.

Failure is the foundation of success: success is the lurking place of failure.