Quotes from Laozi

From wonder into wonder existence opens.

The people are hungry: It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes.

Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it.

He who talks more is sooner exhausted.

Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish, too much handling will spoil it.

Some lose yet gain, others gain and yet lose

The higher the sun ariseth, the less shadow doth he cast; even so the greater is the goodness, the less doth it covet praise; yet cannot avoid its rewards in honors.

A journey of a thousand leagues begins beneath one's feet.

Take care with the end as you do with the beginning

There is no greater offence than harbouring desires. There is no greater disaster than discontent. There is no greater misfortune than wanting more.

An integral being knows without going, sees without looking, and accomplishes without doing.

The ten thousand things flourish and then each returns to the root from which it came. Returning to the root is stillness. Through stillness each fulfils its destiny.

Few things under heaven bring more benefit than the lessons learned from silence and the actions taken without striving.

The True Person governs by emptying the heart of desire and filling the belly with food, weakening ambitions and strengthening bones.

The True Person avoids extremes, self-indulgence, and extravagance.

What is firmly rooted cannot be pulled out

What is well rooted cannot be pulled up. What is firmly grasped will not slip loose. It will be honoured from generation to generation.

Weapons are not proper instruments for gentle people; they use them only when they have no other choice. Peace and quiet are what they value. They do not glory in victory.

Only fools seek power, and the greatest fools seek it through force.

To conquer others is to have power, to conquer yourself is to know the way.

Approach the universe with Tao, And evil will have no power. Not that evil is not powerful, But its power will not be used to harm others.

Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.

Speaking with kindness creates confidence, thinking with kindness creates profoundness, giving with kindness creates love.

Those who know do not talk. Those who talk do not know.