Lao Tzu Quotes

Great Acts Are Made Up of Small Deeds

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.

Act without expectation.

The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.

At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.

He who is contented is rich.

Nothing in this world is more flexible and yielding than water.
Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong,
None can withstand it,
Because they have no way to change it.
So the flexible overcome the adamant,
The yielding overcome the forceful.

Seeing the small is called clarity;
Keeping flexible is called strength.
Using the shining radiance,
You return again to the light,
Not leaving anything to harm yourself.
This is called entering the eternal.

The Way of illumination seems dark,
The Way of advancement seems retiring.
The Way of equality seems to categorize;
Higher virtue seems empty,
Great purity seems ignominious,
Broad virtue seems insufficient,
Constructive virtue seems careless.
Simple honesty seems changeable,
Great range has no boundaries,
Great vessels are finished late;
The great sound has a rarified tone,
The great image has no form.
The Way hides in namelessness.
Only the Way can enhance and perfect.

Eliminate sagacity, abandon knowledge,
And the people benefit a hundredfold,
Eliminate humanitarianism, abandon duty,
And the people return to familial love.
Eliminate craft, abandon profit,
And theft will no longer exist.
These three become insufficient
When used for embellishment
Causing there to be attachments.
See the basic,
Embrace the unspoiled,
Lessen selfishness,
Diminish desire.

Impartiality is the highest nobility;
The highest nobility is divine,
And the divine is the Way.
This Way is everlasting,
Not endangered by physical death.

Attain the climax of emptiness,
Preserve the utmost quiet:
As myriad things act in concert,
I thereby observe the return.
Things flourish,
Then each returns to its root.
Returning to the root is called stillness:
Stillness is called return to Life,
Return to life is called the constant;
Knowing the constant is called enlightenment.
Acts at random, in ignorance of the constant, bode ill.
Knowing the constant gives perspective;
This perspective is impartial.

Carrying vitality and consciousness,
Embracing them as one,
Can you keep them from parting?
Concentrating energy,
Making it supple,
Purifying hidden perception,
Can you make it flawless?
Loving the people, governing the nation,
Can you be uncontrived?
As the gate of heaven opens and closes,
Can you be impassive?
As understanding reaches everywhere,
Can you be innocent?
Producing and developing,
Producing without possessing,
Doing without presuming,
Growing without domineering;
This is called mysterious power.

The valley spirit not dying
Is called the mysterious female.
The opening of the mysterious female
Is called the root of heaven and earth.
Continuous, on the brink of existence,
To put it into practice, don’t try to force it.

The Way is unimpeded harmony;
Its potential may never be fully exploited.
It is as deep as the source of all things:
It blunts the edges,
Resolves complications,
Harmonizes the light,
Assimilates to the world.
Profoundly still, it seems to be there:
I don’t know whose child it is,
Before the creation of images.

A way can be a guide, but not a fixed path;
Names can be given, but not permanent labels.
Nonbeing is called the beginning of heaven and earth;
Being is called the mother of all things.
Always passionless, thereby observe the subtle;
Even intent, thereby observe the apparent.
These two come from the same source but differ in name;
Both are considered mysteries.
The mystery of mysteries
Is the gateway of marvels.

When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.

The words of truth are always paradoxical.