Quotes from Laozi

When his (the good ruler's) task is accomplished and his work done, The people all say, "It happened to us naturally.

True humility involves opposites. The truly humble work in silence. Because they do not speak of their accomplishments, credit for them can never be taken away.

The wise leader settles for good work and then lets others have the floor.

When everyone in the world sees beauty, then ugly exists.

When the people of the world all know beauty as beauty, There arises the recognition of ugliness. When they all know the good as good, There arises the recognition of evil.

The best way to live / is to be like water / For water benefits all things / and goes against none of them.

The truly wise are content to be last. They are, therefore, first. They are indifferent to themselves. They are, therefore self-confident.

Confidence is the greatest friend.

Those who have the courage to dare will perish. Those who have the courage not to dare will live.

If people are not afraid of dying, why threaten them with death?

Free from desire, you realize the mystery, caught in the desire, you see only the manifestations.

Free from desire, you realize the mystery.

It (Tao) is eternally without desire. So, it can be called small. All things return to it, although it does not make itself their ruler. So, it can be called great.

Without desire there is stillness, and the world settles by itself.

We desire to understand the world by giving names to the things we see, but these things are only the effects of something subtle.

I have no desire to desire, and people become like the uncarved wood by themselves.

The sage desires no desire, does not value rare treasures, learns without learning, recovers what people have left behind.

He who knows he has enough is rich.

Ancient masters of excellence had a subtle essence, and a depth too profound to comprehend.

Rushing into action, you fail. Trying to grasp things, you lose them. Forcing a project to completion, you ruin what was almost ripe.

See others as yourself. See families as your family. See towns as your town. See countries as your country. See worlds as your world.

Loving, hating, having expectations: all these are attachments. Attachment prevents the growth of one's true being.

Abandon benevolence, discard duty, and people will return to the family ties.

There is no illusion great than fear.