Tzu Lao Quotes & Sayings

Look, and it can't be seen.
Listen, and it can't be heard.
Reach, and it can't be grasped.
Above, it isn't bright.
Below, it isn't dark.
Seamless, unnamable,
it returns to the realm of nothing.
Form that includes all forms,
image without an image,
subtle, beyond all conception.
Approach it and there is no beginning;
follow it and there is no end.
You can't know it, but you can be it,
at ease in your own life.
Just realize where you come from:
this is the essence of wisdom. — Lao-Tzu

The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own. — Lao-Tzu

Obscure as muddied water. But, with stillness, muddy waters clear. Can you also act while remaining still? — Lao-Tzu

By this (nature of the Tao). — Lao-Tzu

No one can insult me, because I do not want respect.
No one can defeat me, because I have given up the idea of winning.
How can you defeat me? You can only defeat someone who wants to win. — Lao-Tzu

The higher the sun ariseth, the less shadow doth he cast; even so the greater is the goodness, the less doth it covet praise; yet cannot avoid its rewards in honours. — Lao-Tzu

A man can achieve his own happiness only by pursuing the happiness of others, because it is only by forgetting about his own happiness that he can become happy. — Lao-Tzu

True words are not fancy. Fancy words are not true. The good do not debate. Debaters are not good. — Lao-Tzu

In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it. — Lao-Tzu

Intellectual knowledge exists in and of the brain.
Because the brain is part of the body, which must one day expire, this collection of facts, however large and impressive, will expire as well.
Insight, however, is a function of the spirit.
Because your spirit follows you through cycle after cycle of life, death, and rebirth, you have the opportunity of cultivating insight in an ongoing fashion.
Refined over time, insight becomes pure, constant, and unwavering.
This is the beginning of immortality. — Lao-Tzu

He who goes on acting with energy has a (firm) will. — Lao-Tzu

Having arrived at this point of non-action, there is nothing which he does not do. — Lao-Tzu

Thirty spokes share one hub in non-being lies the use of the cart knead clay to make vessels in non-being lies the use of the vessel cut out doors and windows to make a house
therefore form being comes what is usable and from non-being comes what is essential. — Lao-Tzu

All things in the world come from being. And being comes from non-being. — Lao-Tzu

So it is that some things are increased by being diminished, and others are diminished by being increased. — Lao-Tzu

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough. — Lao-Tzu

When there is this abstinence from action, good order is universal. — Lao-Tzu

Guidance is creative, efficacy develops, people give shape, implements complete. That is why all people honor guidance and value efficacy. The nobility of guidance and the value of efficacy are not granted by anyone, but naturally so of themselves. Guidance creates, nurtures, develops, matures, brings to fruition, nourishes, sustains, and shelters. It is creative without possessiveness, constructive without conceit, develops without coercion; this is called unobtrusive efficacy. — Lao-Tzu

Express yourself completely. Then keep quiet. Be like the forces of nature; When it blows, there is only wind; When it rains, there is only rain; When the clouds pass, the sun shines through. — Lao-Tzu

Great indeed is the sublimity of the Creative, to which all beings owe their beginning and which permeates all heaven. — Lao-Tzu

Colors blind the eye
Sounds deafen the ear.
Flavors numb the taste.
Thoughts weaken the mind.
Desires wither the heart. — Lao-Tzu

The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong. — Lao-Tzu

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. — Lao-Tzu

We listen to it, and we do not hear it, and we name it 'the Inaudible. — Lao-Tzu

The highest excellence is like (that of) water. — Lao-Tzu

I thought I know you,
but it was only me.
The you that you truly are
is not the you I see.
My mind has formed your image
but you have already travelled on
I want to see only you
but I see you through me — Lao-Tzu

Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech. — Lao-Tzu

Be the chief but never the lord. — Lao-Tzu

If lightning is the anger of the gods, then the gods are concerned mostly about trees. — Lao-Tzu

no fault greater than the wish to be getting. — Lao-Tzu

31 against war
Weapons are unhappy tools,
not chosen by thoughtful people,
to be used only when there is no choice,
and with a calm, still mind,
without enjoyment.
To enjoy using weapons
is to enjoy killing people,
and to enjoy killing people
is to lose your share in the common good ... — Lao-Tzu

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. LaoTzu. Just make sure that you step in the right direction. — Lao-Tzu

There was something undifferentiated and yet complete, which existed before Heaven and Earth. Soundless and formless, it depends on nothing and does not change. It operates everywhere and is free from danger. It may be considered the mother of the universe. I do not know its name; I call it Tao. — Lao-Tzu

Truly good people are not aware of their goodness, And are therefore good. — Lao-Tzu

Choose food, clothing, and shelter that accords with nature.Rely on your own body for transportation. Allow your work and your recreation to be one and the same. Do exercise that develops your whole being and not just your body. Listen to music that bridges the three spheres of your being. Choose leaders for their virtue rather than their wealth or power. Serve others and cultivate yourself simultaneously. Understand that true growth comes from meeting and solving problems of life in a way that is harmonizing to yourself and to others. If you can follow these simple old ways, you will be continually renewed. — Lao-Tzu

So there are established sayings: Guidance to enlightenment seems nonsensical. Guidance to progress seems backwards. Guidance to equality seems to classify. Higher efficacy seems at a loss. Great purity seems like shame. Broad effectiveness seems insufficient. Constructive effectiveness seems casual. Basic reality seems changeable. A great expanse has no shores. A large container takes a long time to make. Important news is rarely heard. — Lao-Tzu

Fishes should not be taken from the deep; instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people. — Lao-Tzu

The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout; the tower of nine storeys rose from a (small) heap of earth; the journey of a thousand li commenced with a single step. — Lao-Tzu

When pure sincerity forms within, it is outwardly realized in other people's hearts. — Lao-Tzu

What all men fear is indeed to be feared; — Lao-Tzu

If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter,
you will only hurt your hand. — Lao-Tzu

What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly. — Lao-Tzu

The Sage sees the world
as an expansion of his own self
So what need has he to accumulate things? — Lao-Tzu

Peace in Every step — Lao-Tzu

The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes the hardest; that which has no (substantial) existence enters where there is no crevice. — Lao-Tzu

In pursuit of knowledge, every day something is acquired. In pursuit of wisdom, every day something is dropped. — Lao-Tzu

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. — Lao-Tzu

Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. — Lao-Tzu

Anything great is long in making. — Lao-Tzu

One gains by losing and loses by gaining. — Lao-Tzu

Not to show them what is likely to excite their desires is the way to keep their minds from disorder. — Lao-Tzu

To lead the people, walk behind them. — Lao-Tzu

Its name - what passes not away; — Lao-Tzu

Therefore the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the belly, and not the (insatiable longing of the) eyes. — Lao-Tzu

When things flourish they decline. — Lao-Tzu

He who possesses virtue in abundance may be compared to an infant. — Lao-Tzu

If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness. — Lao-Tzu

The disciples were absorbed in a discussion of Lao-Tzu's dictum: "Those who know, do not say; Those who say, do not know." When the master entered, they asked him what the words meant. Said the master, "Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose?" All of them indicated that they knew. Then he said, "Put it into words." All of them were silent. — Anthony De Mello

Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it. — Lao-Tzu

How know I that it is so with all the beauties of existing things? — Lao-Tzu

Whoever knows what is enough Will be happy with his fate. — Lao-Tzu

With these three qualities, it cannot be made the subject of description; and hence we blend them together and obtain The One. — Lao-Tzu

The greatest carver does the least cutting. LAO-TZU — Phil Jackson

An over sharpened sword cannot last long. — Lao-Tzu

The kingdom is a spirit-like thing, and cannot be got by active doing. — Lao-Tzu

He who overcomes others is strong; — Lao-Tzu

By letting go it all gets done. — Lao-Tzu

To speak little is natural. Therefore a gale does not blow a whole morning nor does a downpour last a whole day. — Lao-Tzu

Although he may have brilliant prospects to look at, he quietly remains (in his proper place), indifferent to them. — Lao-Tzu

The best runner leaves no tracks — Lao-Tzu

When beauty is defined, illusions of non-beauty manifest
When goodness is identified, badness becomes an option — Lao-Tzu

Your life is a piece of clay; don't let anyone else mold it for you. — Lao-Tzu

In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them. — Lao-Tzu

Following the Universal Way means practicing selflessness and extending virtue to the world unconditionally. In this way one not only eliminates the heavy contamination accumulated throughout many lifetimes but may also bring about the possibility of restoring one's original divine nature and become an integral being of the multi-universe. — Lao-Tzu

He who defends with love will be secure; Heaven will save him, and protect him with love. — Lao-Tzu

From this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character; and he who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like. — Lao-Tzu

I have to create a circle of reading for myself: Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Lao-Tzu, Buddha, Pascal, The New Testament. This is also necessary for all people. — Leo Tolstoy

He who knows the masculine but keeps to the feminine,
Becomes the ravine of the world.
Being the ravine of the world,
He dwells in constant virtue,
He returns to the state of the babe.
He who knows the white but keeps to the black,
Becomes the model of the world.
Being the model of the world,
He rests in constant virtue,
He returns to the infinite.
He who knows glory but keeps to disgrace,
Becomes the valley of the world.
Being the valley of the world,
He finds contentment in constant virtue,
He returns to the Uncarved Block. — Lao-Tzu

No calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; — Lao-Tzu

When reconciling great hatred there will some remain. How can it be made good? Therefore the wise man accepts the debit side of the account and does not have to enforce payment from others. — Lao-Tzu

To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day. Lao-Tzu — Richard Koch

The Way to do is to be. — Lao-Tzu

The World has a First Cause, which may be regarded as the Mother of the World. When one has found the Mother, one can know the Child. Knowing the Child and still keeping the Mother, to the end of his days he shall suffer no harm. — Lao-Tzu

Lao Tzu says: "Accept yourself. Non-acceptance is the root of all the trouble." None of us accept ourselves. The more a person doesn't accept himself, the greater a mahatma he looks to others to be. We are our greatest enemy. If we had our way, we would cut ourselves to pieces in order to remove what was unacceptable. — Rajneesh

When the court is arrayed in splendor, The fields are full of weeds, And the granaries are empty. Some wear gorgeous clothes, Carry sharp swords, And indulge in food and drink; They have more possessions than they can use. They are robber barons. This is certainly not the way of Tao. — Lao-Tzu

Stop thinking, and end your problems. — Lao-Tzu

Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good as good only because there is evil. — Lao-Tzu

With virtue and quietness one may conquer the world. — Lao-Tzu

Do you imagine the universe is agitated? Go into the desert at night and look at the stars. This practice should answer the question. — Lao-Tzu

Govern large countries
like you cook little fish. — Lao-Tzu

From self-assertion, and therefore he is distinguished; — Lao-Tzu

Racing and hunting madden our minds. — Lao-Tzu

If the Great Way perishes there will morality and duty. When cleverness and knowledge arise great lies will flourish. When relatives fall out with one another there will be filial duty and love. When states are in confusion there will be faithful servants. — Lao-Tzu

A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar. — Lao-Tzu

The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete. — Lao-Tzu

To bear and not to own; to act and not lay claim; to do the work and let it go: for just letting it go is what makes it stay. — Lao-Tzu

For Lao-tzu's Taoism is the philosophical equivalent of jujitsu, or judo, which means the way of gentleness. Its basis is the principle of Tao, which may be translated the Way of Nature. But in the Chinese language the word which we render as "nature" has a special meaning not found in its English equivalent. Translated literally, it means "self-so." For to the Chinese, nature is what works and moves by itself without having to be shoved about, wound up, or controlled by conscious effort. Your heart beats "self-so," and, if you would give it half a chance, your mind can function "self-so" - though most of us are much too afraid of ourselves to try the experiment. — Alan W. Watts

Who acts in stillness finds stillness in his life. — Lao-Tzu

Anyone who doesn't respect a teacher or cherish a student may be clever, but has gone astray. — Lao-Tzu

I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing (with a purpose). — Lao-Tzu