Quotes from Laozi

The sage seeks freedom from desire. He does not collect precious things. He learns not to hold on to ideas. He brings men back to what they have lost.

A violent wind does not last for a whole morning...

He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent...

He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm...

Scholars of the highest class, when they hear about the Tao...

The skillful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels...

The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.

The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout...

There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war.

First, we must do our own personal work, then we tend the necessary work of our family, then our community, then the world.

If you fail to honor your people, They will fail to honor you; It is said of a good leader that When the work is done, the aim fulfilled, The people will say, "We did this ourselves."

In the highest antiquity, the people did not know that there were rulers. In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them.

Act without striving. Work without interfering. Find the flavour in what is flavourless.

The group will not prosper if the leader grabs the lion's share of the credit for the good work that has been done.

Practice non-action. Work without doing.

The Tao of the sage is work without effort.

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

The Way of the Sage is to act but not to compete.

Abandon fancy theologies and imaginary ideas and do some ordinary daily work... {Engage in this work with} unswerving kindness and unending patience.

The True Person benefits yet expects no reward, does the work and moves on. There is no desire to be considered better than others.

Geese are white, crows are black. No argument will change this.

Whatever one cultivates, is what one becomes.

Do not make them (people) weary at their work. If you do not make them weary, they will not be weary of you.

To retreat after a work well done is Heaven's Way.