Quotes From "Tao Te Ching" By 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

If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it. 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

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

He who is in harmony with the Taois like a newborn child. Its bones are soft, its muscles are weak, but its grip is powerful. It doesn't know about the unionof male and female, yet its penis can stand erect, so intense is its vital power. It can scream its head off all day, yet it never becomes hoarse, so complete is its harmony. The Master's power is like this. He lets all things come and goeffortlessly, without desire. He never expects results;thus he is never disappointed. He is never disappointed;thus his spirit never grows old. Lao Tzu

(So), he who displays himself does not shine; he who asserts his own views is not distinguished; he who vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowledged; he who is self-conceited has no superiority allowed to him. Lao Tzu

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth. The named is the mother of ten thousand things. Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations. These two spring from the same source but differ in name; this appears as darkness. Darkness within darkness. The gate to all mystery. Lao Tzu

Thus it is said: The path into the light seems dark, the path forward seems to go back, the direct path seems long, true power seems weak, true purity seems tarnished, true steadfastness seems changeable, true clarity seems obscure, the greatest are seems unsophisticated, the greatest love seems indifferent, the greatest wisdom seems childish. The Tao is nowhere to be found. Yet it nourishes and completes all things. Lao Tzu

One gains by losing and loses by gaining. Lao Tzu

Attain complete emptiness, Hold fast to stillness. Understanding the ordinary: Mind opens. Mind opening leads to compassion, Compassion to nobility, Nobility to heavenliness, Heavenliness to TAO. TAO endures. Your body dies. There is no danger. 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."…" There is no greater misfortunethan underestimating your enemy. Underestimating your enemymeans thinking that he is evil. Thus you destroy your three treasuresand become an enemy yourself. When two great forces oppose each other, the victory will goto the one that knows how to yield. Lao Tzu

Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame. Therefore the Masterfulfills her own obligationsand corrects her own mistakes. She does what she needs to doand demands nothing of others. Lao Tzu

Rushing into action, you fail. Trying to grasp things, you lose them. Forcing a project to completion, you ruin what was almost ripe. Therefore the Master takes actionby letting things take their course. He remains as calm at the end as at the beginning. He has nothing, thus has nothing to lose. What he desires is non-desire;what he learns is to unlearn. He simply reminds peopleof who they have always been. He cares about nothing but the Tao.Thus he can care for all things. Lao Tzu

Beware of those who promise a quick and easy way, for much ease brings many difficulties. Jonathan Star

Trying to understand is like straining through muddy water. Have the patience to wait! Be still and allow the mud to settle. Lao Tzu

If the people never fear death, what is the purpose of threatening to kill them? If the people ever fear death, and I were to capture and kill those who are devious, who would dare to be so? If the people must be ever fearful of death, then there will always be an executioner. Now, To kill in place of the executioner Is like Hewing wood in place of the master carpenter; Few indeed will escape cutting their own hands! . Lao Tzu

Love is a decision - not an emotion! Lao Tzu

Heaven is eternal. The earth endures. The reason for heaven's eternity and earth's enduranceis that they do not live for themselves only, and thereby live forever. The sage steps back but remains in front, the outside always within. Self is realized through selflessness. Sam Hamill

Тhe gentle overcomes the rigid. The slow overcomes the fast. The weak overcomes the strong."…" Everyone knows that the yielding overcomes the stiff, and the soft overcomes the hard. Yet no one applies this knowledge. Lao Tzu

It's best to be like water, nurturing the ten thousand thingswithout competing, flowing into places people scorn, very like the Tao.Make the earth a dwelling place. Cultivate the heart and mind. Practice benevolence. Stand by your word. Govern with equity. Serve skillfully. Act in a timely way, without contentiousness, free of blame. Sam Hamill

When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you. Lao Tzu