Tao Ching Quotes

• He who stands on tiptoe
  doesn't stand firm.
  He who rushes ahead
  doesn't go far.
  He who tries to shine
  dims his own light.
  He who defines himself
  can't know who he really is.
  He who has power over others
  can't empower himself.
  He who clings to his work
  will create nothing that endures.

  Laozi

  Inspirational, Light, Empowering

  24 Copy quote

• Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations. These two spring from the same source but differ in name; this appears as darkness. Darkness within darkness. The gate to all mystery.

  Laozi

  Spring, Names, Darkness Within

  Laozi, Philip J. Ivanhoe (2003). “The Daodejing of Laozi”, p.106, Hackett Publishing

  7 Copy quote

  Show source

• A great nation is like a great man:When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.Having realized it, he admits it.Having admitted it, he corrects it.He considers those who point out his faultsas his most benevolent teachers.He thinks of his enemyas the shadow that he himself casts.

  Laozi

  Teacher, Mistake, Men

  12 Copy quote

• A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants. A good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is. Thus the Master is available to all people and doesn't reject anyone. He is ready to use all situations and doesn't waste anything. This is called embodying the light. What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? What is a bad man but a good man's job? If you don't understand this, you will get lost, however intelligent you are. It is the great secret.

  Laozi

  Teacher, Jobs, Men

  9 Copy quote

• Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.

  Laozi

  Country, Government, Political

  6 Copy quote

• I let go of all desire for the common good, and the good becomes as common as the grass.

  Laozi

  Letting Go, Desire, Liberty

  7 Copy quote

• In dwelling, be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart.

  Laozi

  Heart, Land, Dwelling

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

  23 Copy quote

  Show source

• What is a good man? A teacher of a bad man. What is a bad man? A good man's charge?

  Laozi

  Teacher, Men, Good Man

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

  6 Copy quote

  Show source

• A leader is best when people barely know that he exists.

  Witter Bynner

  Leadership, People, Boss

  95 Copy quote

• Attending fully and becoming supple, Can you be as a newborn babe?

  Laozi

  Becoming, Tao, Newborn

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

  6 Copy quote

  Show source

• When you are one with loss, the loss is experienced willingly.

  Laozi

  Loss, Taoism

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

  7 Copy quote

  Show source

• 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.

  Laozi

  Tao Te Ching, Taoism, Desire

  29 Copy quote

• If you want to become full, let yourself be empty.

  Laozi

  Tao Te Ching, Taoism, Want

  25 Copy quote

• A foolish man is always doing, Yet much remains to be done.

  Laozi

  Men, Foolish Man, Done

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

  10 Copy quote

  Show source

• Close your mouth,
  block off your senses,
  blunt your sharpness,
  untie your knots,
  soften your glare,
  settle your dust.
  This is the primal identity.

  Laozi

  Block, Dust, Tao Te Ching

  21 Copy quote

• He who stands on tiptoe is not steady. He who strides cannot maintain the pace. He who makes a show is not enlightened. He who is self-righteous is not respected. He who boasts achieves nothing. He who brags will not endure. According to followers of the Tao, "These are extra food and unnecessary luggage." They do not bring happiness, therefore followers of the Tao avoid them.

  Laozi

  Self, Pace, Followers

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

  6 Copy quote

  Show source

• The Tao that can be spoken is not the true Tao.

  Laozi

  Tao Te Ching, Tao

  7 Copy quote

• Trustable words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not trustable.

  Laozi

  Beautiful, Wisdom, Fun

  8 Copy quote

• The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be.  The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be.  The more subsidies you have, the less self reliant people will be.

  Laozi

  Self, People, Subsidies

  14 Copy quote

• If you want to accord with the Tao, just do your job, then let go.

  Laozi

  Letting Go, Jobs, Work

  8 Copy quote

• Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good as good only because there is evil. Therefore having and not having arise together. Difficult and easy complement each other. Long and short contrast each other. High and low rest upon each other. Voice and sound harmonize each other. Front and back follow one another.

  Laozi

  Difficult And Easy, Voice, Long

  Laozi, Gia-fu Feng, Jane English (1972). “Tao te ching”, Random House Inc

  7 Copy quote

  Show source

• He who stands on tiptoe does not stand firm.

  Laozi

  Tao Te Ching, Doe, Tiptoes

  Laozi (1997). “Tao Te Ching”, p.25, Wordsworth Editions

  21 Copy quote

  Show source

• According to the ancient Chinese proverb, A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

  John F. Kennedy

  Travel, New Beginnings, Journey

  Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Address to the Nation, delivered 26 July 1963

  74 Copy quote

  Show source

• The hard and stiff will be broken.
  The soft and supple will prevail.

  Laozi

  Broken, Supple, Hard

  8 Copy quote

• Know honor, Yet keep humility. Be the valley of the universe! Being the valley of the universe, Ever true and resourceful, Return to the state of the uncarved block.

  Laozi

  Block, Humility, Honor

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

  6 Copy quote

  Show source