Quotes from Lao Tzu

To produce things and to rear them, To produce, but not to take possession of them, To act, but not to rely on one's own ability, To lead them, but not to master them - This is called profound and secret virtue.

Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."

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.

To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

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

People in their handlings of affairs often fail when they are about to succeed. If one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning, there will be no failure.

How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?

Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.

To know when you have enough is to be rich beyond measure.

Advise the ruler to govern the state as one cooks a small fish - that is, don't turn it so often in the pan that it disintegrates

Everything under heaven is a sacred vessel and cannot be controlled. Trying to control leads to ruin. Trying to grasp, we lose. Allow your life to unfold naturally. Know that it too is a vessel of perfection. Just as you breathe in and breathe out, there is a time for being ahead and a time for being behind; a time for being in motion and a time for being at rest; a time for being vigorous and a time for being exhausted; a time for being safe and a time for being in danger.

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

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend.

When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder.

To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect.

If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.

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.

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them NAME?forward in whatever way they like.

Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.

Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

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.

Tell me and I'll listen. Show me and I'll watch. Let me experience and I'll learn.