Quotes From The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

“Do not conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance. Thorns spring up when an army passes. Years of misery follow a great victory. Do only what needs to be done without using violence.”

"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.”

“Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.”

"Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity."

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

"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."

"At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want."

"By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning."

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. "

"How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men? "

"I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures."

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading."

" 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."

"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. "

"Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides. "

"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. "

"Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself."

"The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness"

"The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be."

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

"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."

"Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself. "

"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you."

"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."


~Seek Within~