Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism, taught a philosophy rooted in simplicity, balance, and harmony with the natural world. His wisdom emphasizes living in accordance with the Tao, the underlying way of the universe, through humility and effortless action. The following quotes reflect Lao Tzu’s timeless insights into peace, leadership, and the art of living well.
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.
A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.
From Tao Te Ching
Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.
From Tao Te Ching
When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
From Tao Te Ching
We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.
We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.
We hammer wood for a house,
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.
We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.
Failure is an opportunity.
If you blame someone else,
there is no end to the blame.
Therefore the Master
fulfills her own obligations
and corrects her own mistakes.
She does what she needs to do
and demands nothing of others.
From Tao Te Ching
He who is in harmony with the Tao
is like a newborn child.
Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak,
but its grip is powerful.
It doesn't know about the union
of male and female,
yet its penis can stand erect,
so intense is its vital power.
It can scream its head off all day,
yet it never becomes hoarse,
so complete is its harmony.
The Master's power is like this.
He lets all things come and go
effortlessly, without desire.
He never expects results;
thus he is never disappointed.
He is never disappointed;
thus his spirit never grows old.
From Tao Te Ching
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.
When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.
There is
a time to live
and a time to die
but never to reject the moment.
The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.
From Te-Tao Ching
To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.
Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality.
He who loves the world as his body may be entrusted with the empire.
Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here.
As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.
Existence is beyond the power of words
To define:
Terms may be used
But are none of them absolute.
In the beginning of heaven and earth there were no words,
Words came out of the womb of matter;
And whether a man dispassionately
Sees to the core of life
Or passionately
Sees the surface,
The core and the surface
Are essentially the same,
Words making them seem different
Only to express appearance.
If name be needed, wonder names them both:
From wonder into wonder
Existence opens.
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.
A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.
From Tao Te Ching
Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.
From Tao Te Ching
When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
From Tao Te Ching
We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.
We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.
We hammer wood for a house,
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.
We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.
Failure is an opportunity.
If you blame someone else,
there is no end to the blame.
Therefore the Master
fulfills her own obligations
and corrects her own mistakes.
She does what she needs to do
and demands nothing of others.
From Tao Te Ching
He who is in harmony with the Tao
is like a newborn child.
Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak,
but its grip is powerful.
It doesn't know about the union
of male and female,
yet its penis can stand erect,
so intense is its vital power.
It can scream its head off all day,
yet it never becomes hoarse,
so complete is its harmony.
The Master's power is like this.
He lets all things come and go
effortlessly, without desire.
He never expects results;
thus he is never disappointed.
He is never disappointed;
thus his spirit never grows old.
From Tao Te Ching
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.
When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.
There is
a time to live
and a time to die
but never to reject the moment.
The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.
From Te-Tao Ching
To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.
Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality.
He who loves the world as his body may be entrusted with the empire.
Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here.
As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.
Existence is beyond the power of words
To define:
Terms may be used
But are none of them absolute.
In the beginning of heaven and earth there were no words,
Words came out of the womb of matter;
And whether a man dispassionately
Sees to the core of life
Or passionately
Sees the surface,
The core and the surface
Are essentially the same,
Words making them seem different
Only to express appearance.
If name be needed, wonder names them both:
From wonder into wonder
Existence opens.
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.
A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.
From Tao Te Ching
Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.
From Tao Te Ching
When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
From Tao Te Ching
We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.
We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.
We hammer wood for a house,
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.
We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.
Failure is an opportunity.
If you blame someone else,
there is no end to the blame.
Therefore the Master
fulfills her own obligations
and corrects her own mistakes.
She does what she needs to do
and demands nothing of others.
From Tao Te Ching
He who is in harmony with the Tao
is like a newborn child.
Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak,
but its grip is powerful.
It doesn't know about the union
of male and female,
yet its penis can stand erect,
so intense is its vital power.
It can scream its head off all day,
yet it never becomes hoarse,
so complete is its harmony.
The Master's power is like this.
He lets all things come and go
effortlessly, without desire.
He never expects results;
thus he is never disappointed.
He is never disappointed;
thus his spirit never grows old.
From Tao Te Ching
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.
When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.
There is
a time to live
and a time to die
but never to reject the moment.
The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.
From Te-Tao Ching
To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.
Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality.
He who loves the world as his body may be entrusted with the empire.
Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here.
As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.
Existence is beyond the power of words
To define:
Terms may be used
But are none of them absolute.
In the beginning of heaven and earth there were no words,
Words came out of the womb of matter;
And whether a man dispassionately
Sees to the core of life
Or passionately
Sees the surface,
The core and the surface
Are essentially the same,
Words making them seem different
Only to express appearance.
If name be needed, wonder names them both:
From wonder into wonder
Existence opens.
