Tao Quotes

• The Tao is great. The universe is great. Earth is great. Man is great. These are the four great powers. Man follows the earth. Earth follows the universe. The universe follows the Tao. The Tao follows only itself.

  Laozi

  Men, Earth, Four

  53 Copy quote

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

  Laozi

  Taoism, Force, Can Not

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• If you can find true contentment, it will last forever.

  Laozi

  Forever, Taoism, Contentment

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• In caring for others and serving heaven,
  There is nothing like using restraint.

  Laozi

  Caring, Heaven, Restraint

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

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• When men lack a sense of awe, there will be disaster.

  Laozi

  Men, Disaster, Awe

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

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• Without the tao, Kindness and compassion are replaced by law and justice; Faith and trust are supplanted by ritual and ceremony.

  Laozi

  Kindness, Compassion, Law

  56 Copy quote

• If you overesteem great men, people become powerless. If you overvalue possessions, people begin to steal. The Master leads by emptying people's minds and filling their cores, by weakening their ambition and toughening their resolve. He helps people lose everything they know, everything they desire, and creates confusion in those who think that they know. Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place.

  Laozi

  Fall, Ambition, Men

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• Embrace simplicity. Put others first. Desire little.

  Laozi

  Simplicity, Taoism, Desire

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• I am good to people who are good. I am also good to people who are not good. Because Virtue is goodness.

  Laozi

  People, Virtue, Goodness

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

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• Tao loves and nourishes all things, but does not dominate it over them.

  Laozi

  Taoism, Doe, All Things

  Laozi (1959). “Tao Tê Ching: A New Translation”

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• She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger. She perceives the universal harmony, even amid great pain, because she has found peace in her heart. Music or the smell of good cooking may make people stop and enjoy. But words that point to the Tao seem monotonous and without flavor. When you look for it, there is nothing to see. When you listen for it, there is nothing to hear. When you use it, it is inexhaustible.

  Laozi

  Pain, Heart, Smell

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• The best leaders are those their people hardly know exist.
  The next best is a leader who is loved and praised.
  Next comes the one who is feared.
  The worst one is the leader that is despised ...
  The best leaders value their words, and use them sparingly.
  When they have accomplished their task,
  the people say, "Amazing!
  We did it, all by ourselves!

  Laozi

  People, Leader, Tao Te Ching

  60 Copy quote

• 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. If you open yourself to the Tao, you are at one with the Tao and you can embody it completely. If you open yourself to insight, you are at one with insight and you can use it completely. If you open yourself to loss, you are at one with loss and you can accept it completely. Open yourself to the Tao, then trust your natural responses; and everything will fall into place.

  Laozi

  Rain, Fall, Loss

  58 Copy quote

• The great Tao flows everywhere. All things are born from it, yet it doesn't create them. It pours itself into its work, yet it makes no claim. It nourishes infinite worlds, yet it doesn't hold on to them. Since it is merged with all things and hidden in their hearts, it can be called humble. Since all things vanish into it and it alone endures, it can be called great. It isn't aware of its greatness; thus it is truly great.

  Laozi

  Heart, Humble, Greatness

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• Do you want to improve the world? I don't think it can be done. The world is sacred. It can't be improved. If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it. If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it. There is a time for being ahead, a time for being behind; a time for being in motion, a time for being at rest; a time for being vigorous, a time for being exhausted; a time for being safe, a time for being in danger. The Master sees things as they are, without trying to control them. She lets them go their own way, and resides at the center of the circle.

  Laozi

  Thinking, Circles, Trying

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• The master does his job and then stops. He understands that the universe is forever out of control, and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Tao.

  Laozi

  Letting Go, Jobs, Forever

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• Allow your softer, more intuitive, and less dominating feminine qualities to rise to the fore, so that you're surrendering rather than dominating, receiving rather than broadcasting, loving rather than fighting.

  Laozi

  Fighting, Taoism, Quality

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

  Laozi

  Heart, Sky, Taoism

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• The Tao can't be perceived. Smaller than an electron, it contains uncountable galaxies. If powerful men and women could remain centered in the Tao, all things would be in harmony. The world would become a paradise. All people would be at peace, and the law would be written in their hearts. When you have names and forms, know that they are provisional. When you have institutions, know where their functions should end. Knowing when to stop, you can avoid any danger. All things end in the Tao as rivers flow into the sea.

  Laozi

  Powerful, Heart, Men

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• Mystics understand the roots of the Tao but not its branches; scientists understand its branches but not its roots. Science does not need mysticism and mysticism does not need science; but man needs both.

  Fritjof Capra

  Science, Men, Roots

  "The Tao of Physics". Book by Fritjof Capra, 1975.

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• Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return. Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source. Returning to the source is serenity. If you don't realize the source, you stumble in confusion and sorrow. When you realize where you come from, you naturally become tolerant, disinterested, amused, kindhearted as a grandmother, dignified as a king. Immersed in the wonder of the Tao, you can deal with whatever life brings you, and when death comes, you are ready.

  Laozi

  Kings, Heart, Grandmother

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• The Tao is told is not the Tao.

  Laozi

  Taoism

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• Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men doesn't try to force issues or defeat enemies by force of arms. For every force there is a counterforce. Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself. The Master does his job and then stops. He understands that the universe is forever out of control, and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Tao. Because he believes in himself, he doesn't try to convince others. Because he is content with himself, he doesn't need others' approval. Because he accepts himself, the whole world accepts him.

  Laozi

  Jobs, Believe, Men

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• When taxes are too high, people go hungry. When the government is too intrusive, people lose their spirit. Act for the people's benefit. Trust them; leave them alone.

  Laozi

  Government, People, Benefits

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• The Tao principle is what happens of itself.

  Laozi

  Taoism, Principles, Happens

  52 Copy quote