Quotes from Lao-Tzu

Nature is not human-hearted.

He who has not faith in others shall find no faith in them.

Knowing others is wisdom knowing yourself is Enlightenment.

To lead the people walk behind them.

A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth.

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.

To see things in the seed, that is genius

Without going out-of-doors, one can know all he needs to know. Without even looking out of his window, one can grasp the nature of everything. Without going beyond his own nature, one can achieve ultimate wisdom. Therefore, the intelligent man knows all he needs to know without going away, And sees all he needs to see without looking elsewhere, And does all he needs to do wihout undue exertion

He who loves the world as his body may be entrusted with the empire.

Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.

Water flows humbly to the lowest level.Nothing is weaker than water,Yet for overcoming what is hard and strong,Nothing surpasses it.

Darkness within darkness. The gateway to all understanding.

The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end of your days.

A good manager is best when people barely know that he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him.

Arms are instruments of ill omen. . . . When one is compelled to use them, it is best to do so without relish. There is no glory in victory, and to glorify it despite this is to exult in the killing of men. . . . When great numbers of people are killed, one should weep over them with sorrow. When victorious in war, one should observe mourning rites.

Conquering others takes force, conquering yourself is true strength.

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

The good man is the teacher of the bad, And the bad is the material from which the good may learn. He who does not value the teacher, Or greatly care for the material, Is greatly deluded although he may be learned. Such is the essential mystery.

The journey of a thousand leagues begins from beneath your feet.

The softest things in the world to overcome the hardest things in the world.

It is wisdom to know others; It is enlightenment to know one's self.

Don't think you can attain total awareness and whole enlightenment without proper discipline and practice. This is egomania. Appropriate rituals channel your emotions and life energy toward the light. Without the discipline to practice them, you will tumble constantly backward into darkness.

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

He who has no faith in others shall find no faith in them.