Sage Quotes by Laozi

The Tao of the sage is work without effort.

— Laozi

The sage is one with the world, and lives in harmony with it.

— Laozi

A sage is skilled at helping people without excluding anyone.

— Laozi

The sage is not ill, because he sees illness as illness.

— Laozi

The sage avoids extremity, excess, and extravagance.

— Laozi

The sage acts by doing nothing.

— Laozi

The sage wears coarse clothes, concealing jade.

— Laozi

The sage attends to the belly, and not to what he sees.

— Laozi

He (the sage) wants all things to follow their own nature, but dares not act.

— Laozi

What Heaven detests, who knows why? Even the sage considers it difficult.

— Laozi

The sage desires no desire, does not value rare treasures, learns without learning, recovers what people have left behind.

— Laozi

People turn their eyes and ears to him (the sage), and the sage cares for them like his own children.

— Laozi

The sage never strives for the great, and thereby the great is achieved.

— Laozi

The sage never strives for greatness, and can therefore accomplish greatness.

— Laozi

The sage regards things as difficult, and thereby avoids difficulty.

— Laozi

Because he (the Sage) demands no honor, he will never be dishonored.

— Laozi

If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he…

— Laozi

Without going outside, you may know the whole world, without looking through the window, you may see the ways of heaven. The…

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

He who regards many things easy will find many difficulties. Therefore the sage regards things difficult, and consequently never has difficulties.

— Laozi

The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, Having bestowed all he has on others,…

— Laozi

The Sage expects no recognition for what he does; he achieves merit but does not take it to himself; he does not…

— Laozi

The sage seeks freedom from desire. He does not collect precious things. He learns not to hold on to ideas. He brings…

— Laozi

Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the various creatures as straw dogs; the sage is ruthless, and treats others as straw…

— Laozi

Therefore the Sage embraces Unity, and is a model for all under Heaven. He is free from self-display, therefore he shines forth;…

— Laozi

Words have divided man from woman, one from another, this from that, until only sages know how to put things together. Without…

— Laozi

Why is the sea king of a hundred streams? Because it lies below them... If the sage would guide the people, he…

— Laozi

To realize that our knowledge is ignorance, This is a noble insight. To regard our ignorance as knowledge, This is mental sickness.…

— Laozi

Therefore the Sage, wishing to be above the people, must by his words put himself below them; wishing to be before the…

— Laozi

Prepare for the difficult while it is still easy. Deal with the big while it is still small. Difficult undertakings have always…

— Laozi

So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind; Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily; Sometimes there is strength…

— Laozi

Be humble and you will remain entire. The sages do not display themselves, therefore they shine. They do not approve themselves, therefore…

— Laozi

The sage's Way is to act and not to contend.

— Laozi

The Way of the Sage is to act but not to compete.

— Laozi

The sage governs by emptying senses and filling bellies.

— Laozi

The sage embraces the one, and is an example to the world.

— Laozi

“Therefore the sages got their knowledge without travelling;”

— Laozi

He (the Sage) does not show off, therefore he shines.

— Laozi

The sage knows himself, but does not parade. He cherishes himself, but does not praise himself.

— Laozi

The sage acts without taking credit. He accomplishes without dwelling on it. He does not want to display his worth.

— Laozi