An ancient (around 6th century BCE) Chinese philosopher and writer, Lao Tzu, is the founder of Taoism. He is considered a central figure in China, and his philosophies shaped many subsequent Chinese philosophers, emperors, and Chinese culture as a whole. He is considered a contemporary of another great Chinese philosopher, Confucius. Let us see all the interesting Lao Tzu Quotes full of deep wisdom & reflect on them to improve our lives.
- “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
Comments: Keep yourself open to changes. And accept that life changes are inevitable, and the quicker you embrace them, the better for your mood. - “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Comments: As they say, well begun is half-done. So be courageous and take that tiny step and let the path unfold and be open to enjoy the journey.
- “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
- “The best fighter is never angry.” ~Lao Tzu
Comments: Learn to redirect the energy of anger into thoughtful plans and actions. - “An over-sharpened sword cannot last long.”
Comments: Too much of anything is bad. Keep a proper balance in whatever you do, and never lose focus of the things that matter. - “A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”
- “Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”
- “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
- “If you do not value rare treasures, you will stop others from stealing.”
Comments: Never get too attached to the things in your life. If you get too attached, you will always worry about losing them or someone stealing them from you. - “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” ~Lao Tzu
- “Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” ~Lao Tzu
- “Act without expectation.”
Comments: Just do your work and let it go. Not everyone will respond the way you want, and you cannot predict who will respond in what way. So to avoid getting yourself hurt or sad, do not expect anything in return. Just do your thing and let it go. Your peace of mind stays intact. - “Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness.”
- “A skillful soldier is not violent; an able fighter does not rage, a mighty conqueror does not give battle, a great commander is a humble man”
- “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.”
- “Give evil nothing to oppose, and it will disappear by itself.”
- “Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail.”
- “To a mind that is still the whole universe surrenders.”
- “Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.”
- “There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.”
- “He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.”
- “Trying to understand is like straining through muddy water. Have the patience to wait! Be still and allow the mud to settle.”
- “Life must be poetry, a song, a dance, like a flower on the roadside, blossoming for no one in particular, but spreading its fragrance in the wind and sending it anywhere.”
- “The Master has no possessions. The more he does for others, the happier he is. The more he gives to others, the wealthier he is.”
- “When one gives undivided attention to the (vital) breath and brings it to the utmost degree of pliancy, he can become as a (tender) babe.”
- “Learn from the people. Plan with the people. Begin with what they have. Build on what they know. Of the best leaders, when the task is accomplished, the people will remark, ‘we have done it ourselves.’ “
- “Perfection is the willingness to be imperfect.”
- “Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people your results.”
- “To recognize your insignificance is empowering.”
- “Moved by deep love, a man is courageous. And with frugality, a man becomes generous, And he who does not desire to be ahead of the world becomes the leader of the world.”
- “Constant action overcomes cold; being still overcomes heat.”
- “Express yourself completely. Then keep quiet. Be like the forces of nature; When it blows, there is only wind; When it rains, there is only rain; When the clouds pass, the sun shines through.”
- A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants.
- “A good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is.”
- “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready… The teacher will disappear.”
- “Great acts are made up of small deeds.”
- “Wise men don’t need to prove their point; men who need to prove their point aren’t wise.”
- “Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.”
- “To bear and not to own; to act and not lay claim; to do the work and let it go: for just letting it go is what makes it stay.”
- “If you wish to be out front, then act as if you were behind.”
- “What is firmly rooted cannot be pulled out.”
- “When pure sincerity forms within, it is outwardly realized in other people’s hearts.”
- “In the end, the treasure of life is missed by those who hold on and gained by those who let go.”
- “A violent wind does not last for a whole morning; a sudden rain does not last for the whole day.”
So those are some of the great Lao Tzu quotes that are full of wisdom. Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! Do you want us to explain any of the above quotes? Let us know that too!
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