Lao Tzu, an ancient Chinese philosopher and the reputable writer of the “Tao Te Ching,” is a seminal figure in Taoism whose teachings have impacted millions over centuries.
His quotes are deep yet brief, offering insight on the art of living harmoniously within the laws of nature and society. Lao Tzu’s philosophy accentuates simplicity, humility, and the deep principle of “Wu Wei,” or non-action, endorsing a life that flows in agreement with the Tao, or the basic nature of the universe.
His quotes inspire reflection and insight, providing guidance on leadership, personal behavior, and the connectedness of all things.
Top Lao Tzu Quotes
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.” – 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
“He who does not trust enough will not be trusted.” – Lao Tzu
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” – Lao Tzu
“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu
“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.” – Lao Tzu
“He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty.” – Lao Tzu
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Lao Tzu Quotes on Wisdom and Enlightenment
“To know that you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease.” – 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
“Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.” – 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
“At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” – 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
“The wise man is one who knows what he does not know.” – Lao Tzu
“Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.” – Lao Tzu
“Act without expectation.” – Lao Tzu
“To see things in the seed, that is genius.” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes on Leadership and Governance
“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
“To lead people, walk behind them.” – Lao Tzu
“Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.” – Lao Tzu
“He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty.” – Lao Tzu
“The best rulers are scarcely known by their subjects.” – Lao Tzu
“When the best leader’s work is done the people say, ‘We did it ourselves.'” – Lao Tzu
“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.” – Lao Tzu
“A great leader speaks little. He never speaks carelessly.” – Lao Tzu
“Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it.” – Lao Tzu
“Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained.” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes on Peace and Harmony
“If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations.” – Lao Tzu
“If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities.” – Lao Tzu
“If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbors.” – Lao Tzu
“If there is to be peace between neighbors, there must be peace in the home.” – Lao Tzu
“If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart.” – Lao Tzu
“Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.” – Lao Tzu
“I have three treasures, guard and keep them: The first is deep love, the second is frugality, and the third is not to dare to be ahead of others. From deep love comes courage; from frugality comes generosity; from humility comes leadership.” – Lao Tzu
“For the wise man looks into space and he knows there is no limited dimensions.” – Lao Tzu
“Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.” – Lao Tzu
“Those who are at peace in their hearts already are in the great peace.” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes on Nature and the Universe
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu
“Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river.” – Lao Tzu
“The sky is everlasting and the earth is enduring. The reason they last forever is that they do not exist for themselves.” – Lao Tzu
“A tree that fills a man’s embrace springs from a small sprout. A tower of nine stories starts with a pile of earth.” – Lao Tzu
“The universe is sacred. You cannot improve it. If you try to hold it, you will lose it.” – Lao Tzu
“The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name.” – Lao Tzu
“The five colors blind the eye. The five tones deafen the ear. The five flavors dull the taste.” – Lao Tzu
“The heavy is the root of the light. The still is the master of unrest.” – Lao Tzu
“Man follows the earth. Earth follows the universe. The universe follows the Tao. The Tao follows only itself.” – Lao Tzu
“Yield and you will be preserved. Bend and you will become straight.” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes on Wisdom and Knowledge
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.” – Lao Tzu
“He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.” – Lao Tzu
“To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” – Lao Tzu
“Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.” – Lao Tzu
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” – Lao Tzu
“One who is too insistent on his own views, finds few to agree with him.” – Lao Tzu
“To know yet to think that one does not know is best.” – Lao Tzu
“The more laws and restrictions there are, the poorer people become.” – Lao Tzu
“When the best student hears about the way he practices it diligently.” – Lao Tzu
“Act without expectation.” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes on Change and Adaptability
“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
“When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” – Lao Tzu
“If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to.” – Lao Tzu
“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” – Lao Tzu
“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” – Lao Tzu
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” – Lao Tzu
“Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.” – Lao Tzu
“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.” – Lao Tzu
“Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes on Patience and Timing
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu
“He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.” – Lao Tzu
“To the patient person, even the rotten wood will bring forth orchids.” – Lao Tzu
“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.” – Lao Tzu
“He who rushes ahead doesn’t go far.” – 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
“Great acts are made up of small deeds.” – Lao Tzu
“The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.” – Lao Tzu
“The best fighter is never angry.” – Lao Tzu
“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to’.” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes on Humility and Modesty
“To lead people, walk behind them.” – Lao Tzu
“The highest virtue is not virtuous. Therefore, it has virtue. The lowest virtue holds onto virtue. Therefore, it has no virtue.” – Lao Tzu
“All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power.” – Lao Tzu
“He who stands on tiptoe doesn’t stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn’t go far.” – Lao Tzu
“Those who know do not boast. Those who boast do not know.” – Lao Tzu
“I have three treasures, guard and keep them: the first is deep love, the second is frugality, and the third is not to dare to be ahead of the world.” – Lao Tzu
“The sage does not attempt anything very big, and thus achieves greatness.” – Lao Tzu
“True words aren’t eloquent; eloquent words aren’t true.” – Lao Tzu
“He who knows himself is enlightened.” – Lao Tzu
“He who is contented is rich.” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes on Action and Inaction (Wu Wei)
“Act without doing; work without effort.” – Lao Tzu
“The Tao does nothing, yet through it all things are done.” – Lao Tzu
“Teach without talking, work without doing.” – Lao Tzu
“The Master acts without doing anything and teaches without saying anything.” – Lao Tzu
“Things arise and she lets them come; things disappear and she lets them go.” – Lao Tzu
“Success is as dangerous as failure, and we are often our own worst enemy.” – Lao Tzu
“In the pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added. In the practice of the Tao, every day something is dropped.” – Lao Tzu
“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.” – Lao Tzu
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists.” – Lao Tzu
“When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes on Life and Death
“Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.” – Lao Tzu
“Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry.” – Lao Tzu
“The Master gives himself up to whatever the moment brings.” – Lao Tzu
“He who is not busy being born is busy dying.” – Lao Tzu
“A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.” – Lao Tzu
“To hold, you must first open your hand. Let go.” – Lao Tzu
“Those who are good travelers have no fixed plans and are not intent upon arriving.” – Lao Tzu
“If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to.” – Lao Tzu
“To die but not to perish is to be eternally present.” – Lao Tzu
“In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple.” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes on Love and Compassion
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” – Lao Tzu
“Love is a decision – not an emotion!” – Lao Tzu
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu
“Respond to anger with virtue. Deal with difficulties while they are still easy. Handle the great while it is still small.” – Lao Tzu
“The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself.” – Lao Tzu
“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” – Lao Tzu
“Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish – too much handling will spoil it.” – Lao Tzu
“When you accept yourself, the whole world accepts you.” – Lao Tzu
“The heart that gives, gathers.” – Lao Tzu
“Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained.” – Lao Tzu
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Final Thoughts
Lao Tzu quotes will resonate deeply with you if you are seeking peace, balance, and an in-depth understanding of your place in the world. His words surpass time and cultural boundaries, offering ageless wisdom on how to navigate life’s intricacies with grace and calmness .
By teaching the virtues of patience, flexibility, and compassion, Lao Tzu’s quotes motivate a way of life that nurtures inner serenity and a unified existence with you and the environment.
As ypu reflect on his teachings, you find deep lessons that help cultivate a more reflective and fulfilling approach to life’s challenges and secrets.