Lao Tzu Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old Lao Tzu quotes, Lao Tzu sayings, and Lao Tzu proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.'

From wonder into wonder existence opens. Lao Tzu
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. Lao Tzu
There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent. Lao Tzu
The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself. Lao Tzu
Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Lao Tzu
Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it. Lao Tzu
A tree trunk the size of a man grows from a blade as thin as a hair. A tower nine stories high is built from a small heap of earth. Lao-Tzu
Silence is a source of great strength. Lao Tzu
The reason why the universe is eternal is that it does not live for itself; it gives life to others as it transforms. Lao Tzu
The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. Through this I know the advantage of taking no action. Lao Tzu
That which offers no resistance, overcomes the hardest substances. Lao Tzu
Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power. Lao Tzu
He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know. Lao Tzu
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. Lao Tzu
At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want. Lao Tzu
The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be. Lao Tzu
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. Lao Tzu
Failure is the foundation of success: success is the lurking place of failure. Lao Tzu
The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself. Lao Tzu
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu
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. Lao Tzu
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. Lao Tzu
The sage desires no desire, does not value rare treasures, learns without learning, recovers what people have left behind. Lao Tzu
The sage seeks freedom from desire. He does not collect precious things. He learns not to hold on to ideas. He brings men back to what they have lost. Lao Tzu
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. Lao Tzu
When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder. Lao Tzu
He who has achieved this state Is unconcerned with friends and enemies, With good and harm, with honor and disgrace. This therefore is the highest state of man. Lao Tzu
To bear the country's disgrace is to rule the shrines of soil and grain. To bear the country's misfortunes is to be the king of the world. Lao Tzu
I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men. Lao Tzu
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. Lao Tzu