50 Inspiring Quotes From Lao Tzu

1. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
2. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
3. Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.
4. Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
5. Silence is a source of great strength.
6. Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
7. If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
8. A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
9. To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
10. When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
11. A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
12. I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.
13. Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.
14. Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.
15. Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.
16. When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
17. Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.
18. The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.
19. In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
20. Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.
21. Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.
22. Of all that is good, sublimity is supreme. Succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful. Furtherance is the agreement of all that is just. Perseverance is the foundation of all actions.
23. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
24. Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
25. Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.
26. If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.
27. The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.
28. The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.
29. Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.
30. When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'
31. Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.
32. He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
33. The people are hungry: It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes.
34. Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.
35. Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.
36. He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.
37. It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. He who does his duty as his own nature reveals it, never sins.
38. He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty.
39. The career of a sage is of two kinds: He is either honored by all in the world, Like a flower waving its head, Or else he disappears into the silent forest.
40. He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.
41. An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.
42. To lead people walk behind them.
43. Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The less one knows.
44. From caring comes courage.
45. In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.
46. Be the chief but never the lord.
47. The words of truth are always paradoxical.
48. A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
49. For the wise man looks into space and he knows there is no limited dimensions.
50. Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.