Quotes by
Lao-Tzu |
Lao-Tze or Laozi, 6th cent. BC , Chinese philosopher
Lao-Tzu or Laozi or Lao-Tze was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. He is known as the legendary author of the Tao Te Ching and the founder of philosophical Taoism, and as a deity in religious Taoism and traditional Chinese religions.He is usually dated to around the 6th century BC and reckoned a contemporary of Confucius, but some historians contend that he actually lived during the Warring States period of the 5th or 4th century BC.
| 51 quotes | 16,255 visits |
Quotations
| • | If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present. 20 |
| • | Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. 19 |
| • | He who acts, destroys; he who grasps, loses. Therefore the Sage does not act, and so does not destroy; he does not grasp, and so he does not lose. 17 |
| • | What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly. 17 |
| • | He who knows others is wise, but he who knows himself is enlightened. 13 |
| • | Music in the soul can be heard by the universe. 13 |
| • | If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading. 13 |
| • | Stop thinking, and end your problems. 12 |
| • | Stop leaving and you will arrive. Stop searching and you will see. Stop running away and you will be found. 12 |
| • | There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, yet for attacking things that are hard and strong there is nothing that surpasses it, nothing that can take its place. 11 |
| • | Those who know do not speak; those who speak do not know. 10 |
| • | All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small. 10 |
| • | When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. 10 |
| • | Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment. 10 |
| • | I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. 10 |
| • | There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent. 9 |
| • | To lead people, walk beside them. 8 |
| • | Loss is not as bad as wanting more. 8 |
| • | When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you. 8 |
| • | He who overcomes others is strong, but he who overcomes himself is mightier still. 7 |
| • | Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing. 7 |
| • | To a mind that is still the whole universe surrenders. 7 |
| • | As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it. 7 |
| • | Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. 7 |
| • | The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself. 7 |
| • | Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. 7 |
| • | Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides. 7 |
| • | 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. 6 |
| • | Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. 6 |
| • | The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long. 6 |
| • | New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. 6 |
| • | Extreme straightness is as bad as crookedness. Extreme cleverness is as bad as folly. Extreme fluency is as bad as stammering. 5 |
| • | A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. 5 |
| • | Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear. 5 |
| • | To see things in the seed, that is genius. 5 |
| • | An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox. 5 |
| • | A variety of colors makes man's eye blind; a diversity of sounds makes man's ear deaf; a mixture of flavors makes man's palate dull. 4 |
| • | Failure is the foundation of success, and the means by which it is achieved. Success is the lurking-place of failure; but who can tell when the turning-point will come? 4 |
| • | To understand the limitation of things, desire them. 4 |
| • | Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. 4 |
| • | The truest sayings are paradoxical. 3 |
| • | The way to do is to be. 3 |
| • | Perfection is the willingness to be imperfect. 3 |
| • | When nothing is done, nothing is left undone. 3 |
| • | If you wish to be out front, then act as if you were behind. 3 |
| • | Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. 3 |
| • | Be the chief but never the lord. 3 |
| • | If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence. 3 |
| • | Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself. 2 |
| • | At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want. 2 |
| • | He who is contented is rich. 2 |
