Laozi Quotations
Laozi, philosopher of ancient China and founder of Taoism
Laozi (Lao tzu; also Lao Tse, Laotze, Lao
Zi, and other variations, born 4th century BC) was a philosopher of ancient
China and is a central
figure in Taoism
(also spelled "Daoism").
Laozi literally means "Old
Master" and is generally considered an honorific.
Laozi is revered as a god in
religious forms of Taoism.
Quotations
1.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a
single step.
2.
Seek
not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of happiness.
3.
He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does
not know.
4.
He
who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
5.
He who knows others is wise; He who know himself
is enlightened.
6.
He
who loves the world as his body may be entrusted with the empire.
7.
I
have three treasures. Guard and keep them:
The first is deep love,
The second is frugality,
And the third is not to dare to be ahead of the world.
Because of deep love, one is courageous.
Because of frugality, one is generous.
Because of not daring to be ahead of the world, one becomes the leader of the world.
8.
Kindness
in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.
9.
Manifest
plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.
10.
People
are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge.
11.
The
best [man] is like water.
Water is good; it benefits all things and does not compete with them.
It dwells in [lowly] places that all disdain.
This is why it is so near to Tao.
Water is good; it benefits all things and does not compete with them.
It dwells in [lowly] places that all disdain.
This is why it is so near to Tao.
12.
The
journey of a thousand leagues begins from beneath your feet.
13.
The
more laws and order are made prominent,
The more thieves and robbers there will be.
The more thieves and robbers there will be.
14.
The
softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.
Through this I know the advantage of taking no action.
Through this I know the advantage of taking no action.
15.
The
Way of Heaven is to benefit others and not to injure.
The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.
The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.
16.
There is no calamity greater
than lavish desires.
There is no greater guilt than discontentment.
And there is not greater disaster than greed.
There is no greater guilt than discontentment.
And there is not greater disaster than greed.
17.
To
be worn out is to be renewed.
18.
To
have little is to possess.
To have plenty is to be perplexed.
To have plenty is to be perplexed.
19.
To
know that you do not know is the best.
To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease.
To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease.
20.
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.
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.
21.
When
armies are mobilized and issues are joined,
The man who is sorry over the fact will win.
The man who is sorry over the fact will win.
22.
When
the highest type of men hear Tao,
They diligently practice it.
When the average type of men hear Tao,
They half believe in it.
When the lowest type of men hear Tao,
They laugh heartily at it.
They diligently practice it.
When the average type of men hear Tao,
They half believe in it.
When the lowest type of men hear Tao,
They laugh heartily at it.
23.
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.
There arises the recognition of ugliness.
When they all know the good as good,
There arises the recognition of evil.
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