--- title: "Best Tao ching Quotes by Laozi" description: "46 Tao ching quotes by Laozi. Plus more from Laozi and more Tao ching sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/laozi-147_all-things_the-nameless-is-the-beginning-of-heaven_552891.jpg" --- > [The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth. The named is the mother of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-nameless-is-the-beginning-of-heaven-and-earth-the-named-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/laozi-147_all-things_the-nameless-is-the-beginning-of-heaven_552891.jpg) > [I let go of all desire for the common good, and the good becomes as common as the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/i-let-go-of-all-desire-for-the-common-good-and-the-good-becomes-as/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/laozi-147_common_i-let-go-of-all-desire-for-the-common-go_2738655.jpg) > [Attending fully and becoming supple, Can you be as a newborn babe?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/attending-fully-and-becoming-supple-can-you-be-as-a-newborn-babe/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5de/laozi-147_attending_attending-fully-and-becoming-supple-can_720865.jpg) > [Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/governing-a-large-country-is-like-frying-a-small-fish-you-spoil-it/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/laozi-147_country_governing-a-large-country-is-like-frying_839601.jpg) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/true-words-aren-t-eloquent-eloquent-words-aren-t-true-wise-men-don-t-2/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/laozi-147_book-of-tao_true-words-aren-t-eloquent-eloquent-word_2727268.jpg) > [He who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn't go far. He who tries to shine dims his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-who-stands-on-tiptoe-doesn-t-stand-firm-he-who-rushes-ahead-doesn/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/laozi-147_empowering_he-who-stands-on-tiptoe-doesn-t-stand-fi_1713767.jpg) ## More by Laozi > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In lightness the root is lost. In haste the ruler is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-lightness-the-root-is-lost-in-haste-the-ruler-is-lost/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-the-sage-wants-to-stand-above-people-he-must-speak-to-them-from/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Goodie-goodies are the thieves of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/goodie-goodies-are-the-thieves-of-virtue/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He that humbles himself shall be preserved entire. He that bends shall be made straight. He that is empty shall be filled. He that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-that-humbles-himself-shall-be-preserved-entire-he-that-bends-shall/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Way of the Sage is to act but not to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-way-of-the-sage-is-to-act-but-not-to-compete/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Do nondoing, strive for nonstriving, savor the flavorless, regard the small as important, make much of little, repay enmity with virtue; plan for difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/do-nondoing-strive-for-nonstriving-savor-the-flavorless-regard-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Without looking through the window, you can see Heaven's Way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/without-looking-through-the-window-you-can-see-heaven-s-way/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-dissolve-your-ego-can-you-abandon-the-idea-of-self-and-other/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What's the difference between beautiful and ugly?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-s-the-difference-between-beautiful-and-ugly/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In stillness the muddied water returns to clarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-stillness-the-muddied-water-returns-to-clarity/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He (the sage) is good to those who are good. He is also good to those who are not good. That is the virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-the-sage-is-good-to-those-who-are-good-he-is-also-good-to-those/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [There is a thing inherent and natural which existed before heaven and earth. Motionless and fathomless, It stands alone and never changes; It pervades…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/there-is-a-thing-inherent-and-natural-which-existed-before-heaven-and/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? What is a bad man but a good man's job? If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-is-a-good-man-but-a-bad-man-s-teacher-what-is-a-bad-man-but-a/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tao-ching/laozi/#itemlist", "name": "Best Tao ching Quotes by Laozi", "numberOfItems": 6, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth. 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