Taoism Quotes by Laozi · Page 7

Knowing honor, but clinging to disgrace, you become the valley of the world.

— Laozi

When much virtue is achieved, nothing is not overcome.

— Laozi

Embrace simplicity. Put others first. Desire little.

— Laozi

Let people return to making knots on ropes, instead of writing.

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

Those who defeat others are strong, those who defeat themselves are mighty.

— Laozi

The Tao never acts with force, yet there is nothing that it can not do.

— Laozi

What the Way is to the world, the stream is to the river and the sea.

— Laozi

The Master observes the world, but trusts his inner vision. He allows things to come and go. His heart is as open…

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

There is no greater fault than sensual indulgence. There is no greater misfortune than malcontent. There is no greater calamity than greed.

— Laozi

I do not know its name. I call it the Way. For the lack of better words I call it great.

— Laozi

Things exalted then decay. This is going against the Way. What goes against the Way meets an early end.

— Laozi

What people loathe the most is to be orphaned, desolate, unworthy. But this is what princes and kings call themselves.

— Laozi

The value of teaching without words and accomplishing without action is understood by few in the world.

— Laozi

It (Tao) is eternally without desire. So, it can be called small. All things return to it, although it does not make…

— Laozi

All things arise in unison. Thereby we see their return.

— Laozi

Those who know when it is enough will not perish.

— Laozi

When bitter enemies make peace, surely some bitterness remains.

— Laozi

Cut out doors and windows for the house. The holes make it useful.

— Laozi

When everyone in the world sees beauty, then ugly exists.

— Laozi

Intelligent people know others. Enlightened people know themselves.

— Laozi

Hold on to the ancient Way to master the present, and to learn the distant beginning.

— Laozi

He who treasures his body as much as the world can care for the world.

— Laozi

Taking things lightly must lead to big difficulties.

— Laozi

The highest benevolence acts without purpose.

— Laozi

The reason for great distress is the body. Without it, what distress could there be?

— Laozi

The biggest in the world is small in its beginning.

— Laozi

The valley spirit never dies. It is called the mystical female.

— Laozi

A tree as wide as a man's embrace grows from a tiny shoot.

— Laozi

Harmony is called the eternal. Knowing the eternal is called clarity.

— Laozi

Heaven's net is very vast. It is sparsely meshed, yet nothing slips through.

— Laozi

If you worry more for others' beliefs, then you will be their slave.

— Laozi

Those who know it do not speak about it. Those who speak about it do not know it.

— Laozi

In lightness the root is lost. In haste the ruler is lost.

— Laozi

The sage avoids extremity, excess, and extravagance.

— Laozi

Knowing the bright, but clinging to the dark, you become a model to the world.

— Laozi

Pounding an edge to sharpness will not make it last.

— Laozi

When leading people and serving Heaven, nothing exceeds moderation.

— Laozi

The softest in the world surpasses the hardest in the world.

— Laozi