Laozi quotes - page 3

The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own. (Laozi)
Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. But with the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say We have done this ourselves.
Laozi
Darkness within darkness. The gateway to all understanding.
Laozi
Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.
Laozi
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.
Laozi
Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.
Laozi
Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.
Laozi
If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.
Laozi
Since before time and space were, the Tao is. It is beyond is and is not.
Laozi
There is a thing inherent and natural, Which existed before heaven and earth. Motionless and fathomless, It stands alone and never changes; It pervades everywhere and never becomes exhausted. It may be regarded as the Mother of the Universe. I do not know its name. If I am forced to give it a name, I call it Tao, and I name it as supreme.
Laozi
When men lack a sense of awe, there will be disaster. (Laozi)
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
Laozi
The universe is deathless; Is deathless because, having no finite self, it stays infinite. A sound man by not advancing himself stays the further ahead of himself, By not confining himself to himself sustains himself outside himself: By never being an end in himself he endlessly becomes himself.
Laozi
A violent wind does not outlast the morning; a squall of rain does not outlast the day. Such is the course of Nature. And if Nature herself cannot sustain her efforts long, how much less can man!
Laozi
One can not reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others.
Laozi
When a nation is filled with strife, then do patriots flourish.
Laozi
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.
Laozi
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.
Laozi
A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
Laozi
Nature is not human hearted.
Laozi
Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it. (Laozi)
How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?
Laozi
Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.
Laozi
Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.
Laozi
Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it.
Laozi