When you find the way others will find you.
—Laozi
We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.
—Laozi
The world is ruled by letting things take their course.
—Laozi
I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is 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.
—Laozi
Topics: Leadership, Leaders
What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.
—Laozi
Topics: Perception, Attitude
Marriage is three parts love and seven parts forgiveness of sins.
—Laozi
Topics: Marriage
Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.
—Laozi
Rushing into action, you fail. Trying to grasp things, you lose them. Forcing a project to completion, you ruin what was almost ripe.
—Laozi
Topics: Failure, Action
Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.
—Laozi
Topics: Selfishness, Happiness, Desires, Desire, Simple Living, Simplicity
In ruling the people and in serving heaven it is best for a ruler to be sparing. It is because he is sparing that it may be said that he is able to follow the way from the start; Following the way from the start he may be said to accumulate an abundance of virtue; Accumulating an abundance of virtue there is nothing he cannot overcome; When there is nothing he cannot overcome, no one knows his limit; When no one knows his limit he can possess a state.
—Laozi
He is strong who conquers others; He who conquers himself is mighty.
—Laozi
Topics: Knowledge, Discipline, Self-Control
The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.
—Laozi
Even a journey of a thousand miles starts from right under one’s feet.
—Laozi
He who knows does not speak.
He who speaks does not know.
He who knows others is wise.
He who knows himself is enlightened.
He who conquers others has physical strength,
He who conquers himself is strong.
—Laozi
To lead the people, walk behind them.
—Laozi
Topics: Leadership
If I have even just a little sense, I will walk on the main road and my only fear will be of straying from it.
—Laozi
Manifest plainness, Embrace simplicity, Reduce selfishness, Have few desires.
—Laozi
For all things difficult to acquire, the intelligent man works with perseverance.
—Laozi
Topics: Intelligence, Perseverance
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.
—Laozi
Topics: Thinking, Work
The perfect man employs his mind as a mirror. It grasps nothing; it refuses nothing. It receives, but does not keep.
—Laozi
Great acts are made up of small deeds.
—Laozi
Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.
—Laozi
Topics: Cunning, Intelligence, Disorder
A man who knows how little he knows is well, a man who knows how much he knows is sick. If, when you see the symptoms, you can tell, Your cure is quick.
A sound man knows that sickness makes him sick and before he catches it his cure is quick.
—Laozi
If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.
—Laozi
Topics: Giving, Charity, Intelligence
The sage never tries to store things up. The more he does for others, the more he has. The more he gives to others, the greater his abundance.
—Laozi
Topics: Wisdom, Giving
He who knows he has enough is rich.
—Laozi
Topics: Riches, Wealth
When men lack a sense of awe, there will be disaster.
—Laozi
To know you have enough is to be rich.
—Laozi
Know contentment and you will suffer no disgrace. Know when to stop and you will meet with no danger. You can then endure.
—Laozi
Confront the difficult when it is still easy: accomplish the great task by a series of small acts.
—Laozi
A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.
—Laozi
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.
—Laozi
Topics: Winning, Attachment, Letting Go
The sage wears clothes of coarse cloth but carries jewels
in his bosom;
He knows himself but does not display himself;
He loves himself but does not hold himself in high esteem.
Thus he rejects the latter and takes the former.
—Laozi
A leader is best when people barely know he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worse when they despise him. But of a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: “we did it ourselves.”
—Laozi
Topics: People, Leadership, Love, Leaders
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.
—Laozi
Topics: Leadership
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.
—Laozi
Topics: Action, Wisdom, Strength, Power, Intelligence, Awareness, Win
He who has no faith in others shall find no faith in them.
—Laozi
Topics: Belief, Faith
Failure is the foundation of success, and the means by which it is achieved.
—Laozi
Topics: Mistakes, Failures, Failure
All things in the world come from being.
And being comes from non-being.
—Laozi
He who has not faith in others shall find no faith in them.
—Laozi
Topics: Positive Attitudes, Optimism, Health
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Zhuang Zhou Chinese Taoist Philosopher
Confucius Chinese Philosopher
Sun Tzu Chinese Military Leader
Lin Yutang Chinese Author, Philologist
Jianzhi Sengcan Chinese-Buddhist Monk
Pythagoras Greek Philosopher
Anacharsis Scythian Prince
Ralph Waldo Emerson American Philosopher
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Indian Hindu Philosopher
Jiddu Krishnamurti Indian Philosopher