Lao Tzu, proper name Li Er, courtesy name Boyang, was an ancient Chinese
philosopher and writer. He is the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching, the
founder of philosophical Taoism, and a deity in religious Taoism and
traditional Chinese religions.
Here is a selection of Lao Tzu most famous quotes. Inspirational and
motivating sayings from Lao Tzu.
Famous Lao Tzu Quotes
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.― Lao Tzu
The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.― Lao Tzu
Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.― Lao Tzu
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.― Lao Tzu
Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time,' is like saying, 'I don't want to.― Lao Tzu
One who believes in himself has no need to convince others.― Lao Tzu
The best fighter is never angry.― Lao Tzu
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.― Lao Tzu
A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.― Lao Tzu
Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people your results.― Lao Tzu
Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.― 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
Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.― Lao Tzu
Those who are right do not argue. Those who argue are not right.― Lao Tzu
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.― Lao Tzu
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.― Lao Tzu
Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?― Lao Tzu
Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.― Lao Tzu
If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.― Lao Tzu
When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you.― 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
Silence is a source of Great Strength.― Lao Tzu
The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.― Lao Tzu
If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.― Lao Tzu
Stop thinking, and end your problems.― Lao Tzu
To attain knowledge, add things everyday. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.― Lao Tzu
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.― Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Inspirational Quotes
Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.― Lao Tzu
Manifest plainness, Embrace simplicity, Reduce selfishness, Have few desires.― Lao Tzu
The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.― Lao Tzu
Act without expectation.― Lao Tzu
If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.― Lao Tzu
Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.― Lao Tzu
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.― Lao Tzu
Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.― Lao Tzu
Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.― Lao Tzu
If you understand others you are smart. If you understand yourself you are illuminated. If you overcome others you are powerful. If you overcome yourself you have strength. If you know how to be satisfied you are rich. If you can act with vigor, you have a will. If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting. If you die without loss, you are eternal.― 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.― Lao Tzu
To know that you do not know is the best. To think you know when you do not is a disease. Recognizing this disease as a disease is to be free of it.― Lao Tzu
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
Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness.― Lao Tzu
To understand the limitation of things, desire them.― Lao Tzu
What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.― Lao Tzu
The wise man is one who, knows, what he does not know.― Lao Tzu
If a person seems wicked, do not cast him away. Awaken him with your words, elevate him with your deeds, repay his injury with your kindness. Do not cast him away; cast away his wickedness.― Lao Tzu
Loss is not as bad as wanting more.― Lao Tzu
To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.― Lao Tzu
Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it.― Lao Tzu
Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.― Lao Tzu
The further one goes, the less one knows.― Lao Tzu
By letting go it all gets done.― Lao Tzu
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.― Lao Tzu
I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.― Lao Tzu
Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.― Lao Tzu
Stop leaving and you will arrive. Stop searching and you will see. Stop running away and you will be found.― Lao Tzu
All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. humility gives it its power. if you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. if you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them.― Lao Tzu
Do you have the patience to wait Till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving Till the right action arises by itself?― Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Motivational Quotes
Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.― Lao Tzu
Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here.― Lao Tzu
When there is no desire, all things are at peace.― Lao Tzu
He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.― Lao Tzu
As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.― Lao Tzu
There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.― Lao Tzu
Because of a great love, one is courageous.― Lao Tzu
He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.― Lao Tzu
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.― Lao Tzu
When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad.― 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
Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear.― Lao Tzu
Trying to understand is like straining through muddy water. Have the patience to wait! Be still and allow the mud to settle.― Lao Tzu
Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.― Lao Tzu
Love is a decision - not an emotion!― Lao Tzu
There is a time to live and a time to die but never to reject the moment.― Lao Tzu
Wisdom from Lao Tzu
Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.― Lao Tzu
Hope and fear are both phantoms that arise from thinking of the self. When we don't see the self as self, what do we have to fear?― Lao Tzu
When the student is ready the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready... The teacher will Disappear.― Lao Tzu
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend.― Lao Tzu
True words aren't eloquent; eloquent words aren't true. Wise men don't need to prove their point; men who need to prove their point aren't wise.― Lao Tzu
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.― Lao Tzu
Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.― Lao Tzu
There is no illusion greater than fear.― Lao Tzu
Great acts are made up of small deeds.― Lao Tzu
The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.― Lao Tzu
Perfection is the willingness to be imperfect.― Lao Tzu
An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.― Lao Tzu
One who is too insistent on his own views finds few to agree with him.― Lao Tzu
Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.― Lao Tzu
New Beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.― Lao Tzu
The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.― Lao Tzu
He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.― Lao Tzu
Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.― Lao Tzu
If you wish to be out front, then act as if you were behind.― Lao Tzu
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small.― Lao Tzu
One can not reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others.― Lao Tzu