Tao Ching Quotes:

Observe how endings become beginnings.

- Laozi

topic: Tao Te Ching, Tao Ching, Tao Wisdom, Tao Te Ching Leadership

To understand the limitation of things, desire them.

- Laozi

topic: Tao Te Ching, Desire, Tao Ching, Tao Wisdom

When you are one with loss, the loss is experienced willingly.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Loss, Taoism, Tao Ching

If good happens, good; if bad happens, good.

- Laozi

topic: Tao Te Ching, Taoism, Tao Ching, Tao Wisdom

Yielding, like ice about to melt.

- Laozi

source: Laozi, Burton Watson, Stephen Addiss, Stanley Lombardo (1993). “Dao de Jing”, p.15, Hackett Publishing

topic: Ice, Taoism, Tao Ching

The Tao that can be spoken is not the true Tao.

- Laozi

topic: Tao Te Ching, Tao, Tao Ching

He who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn't go far. He who tries to shine dims his own light. He who defines himself can't know who he really is. He who has power over others can't empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures.

- Laozi

topic: Inspirational, Light, Empowering, Tiptoes, Power Over Others

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.

- Laozi

source: Laozi, Philip J. Ivanhoe (2003). “The Daodejing of Laozi”, p.106, Hackett Publishing

topic: Spring, Names, Darkness Within, Tao Ching

A great nation is like a great man:When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.Having realized it, he admits it.Having admitted it, he corrects it.He considers those who point out his faultsas his most benevolent teachers.He thinks of his enemyas the shadow that he himself casts.

- Laozi

topic: Teacher, Mistake, Men, Tao Ching, Tao Te Ching Leadership

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.

- Laozi

topic: Inspirational, Travel, Arriving, Journey And Destination, Journey Home

Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking. Center your country in the Tao and evil will have no power. Not that it isn't there, but you'll be able to step out of its way. Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.

- Laozi

topic: Leadership, Country, Evil, Frying, Tao Ching

I let go of all desire for the common good, and the good becomes as common as the grass.

- Laozi

topic: Letting Go, Desire, Liberty, Common Good, Tao Ching

In dwelling, be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart. In dealing with others, be gentle and kind. In speech, be true. In ruling, be just. In daily life, be competent. In action, be aware of the time and the season.

- Laozi

topic: Heart, Land, Dwelling, Tao Ching

What is a good man? A teacher of a bad man. What is a bad man? A good man's charge?

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Teacher, Men, Good Man, Tao Ching

A leader is best when people barely know that he exists.

- Witter Bynner

topic: People, Boss, Leader, Managing People, Funny Leadership

Attending fully and becoming supple, Can you be as a newborn babe?

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Becoming, Tao, Newborn, Tao Ching, Attending

The Master's power is like this. He lets all things come and go effortlessly, without desire. He never expects results; thus he is never disappointed. He is never disappointed; thus his spirit never grows old.

- Laozi

topic: Tao Te Ching, Taoism, Desire, Never Expect, Tao Ching

If you want to become full, let yourself be empty.

- Laozi

topic: Tao Te Ching, Taoism, Want, Tao Ching

A foolish man is always doing, Yet much remains to be done.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Men, Foolish Man, Done, Tao Ching, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity.

- Laozi

topic: Block, Dust, Tao Te Ching, Sharpness, Primal

He who stands on tiptoe is not steady. He who strides cannot maintain the pace. He who makes a show is not enlightened. He who is self-righteous is not respected. He who boasts achieves nothing. He who brags will not endure. According to followers of the Tao, "These are extra food and unnecessary luggage." They do not bring happiness, therefore followers of the Tao avoid them.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Self, Pace, Followers, Tao Ching, Luggage

Trustable words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not trustable.

- Laozi

topic: Beautiful, Wisdom, Fun, Being Truthful, Beautiful Words

The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.

- Laozi

topic: People, Trying, Vices, Groundwork, Self Reliant

If you want to accord with the Tao, just do your job, then let go.

- Laozi

topic: Letting Go, Jobs, Work, Tiptoes, Tao Ching

Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good as good only because there is evil. Therefore having and not having arise together. Difficult and easy complement each other. Long and short contrast each other. High and low rest upon each other. Voice and sound harmonize each other. Front and back follow one another.

- Laozi

source: Laozi, Gia-fu Feng, Jane English (1972). “Tao te ching”, Random House Inc

topic: Difficult And Easy, Voice, Long, Highs And Lows, Tao Ching

He who stands on tiptoe does not stand firm.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “Tao Te Ching”, p.25, Wordsworth Editions

topic: Tao Te Ching, Doe, Tiptoes, Tao Ching, Tao Wisdom

According to the ancient Chinese proverb, A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

- John F. Kennedy

source: Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Address to the Nation, delivered 26 July 1963

topic: Travel, New Beginnings, Journey, Journey And Destination, Journey Begins

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.

- Laozi

topic: Inspirational, Life, Death, Supple, Tao Ching

Know honor, Yet keep humility. Be the valley of the universe! Being the valley of the universe, Ever true and resourceful, Return to the state of the uncarved block.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Block, Humility, Honor, Tao Ching

The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth. The named is the mother of all things.

- Laozi

source: Laozi, Philip J. Ivanhoe (2003). “The Daodejing of Laozi”, p.104, Hackett Publishing

topic: Mother, Heaven, Tao Te Ching, Nameless, Tao Ching

The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.

- Laozi

topic: Flames, Long, Half, Prodigal Son, Tao Ching

When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (2008). “Daodejing: A Literal-critical Translation”, University Press of Amer

topic: Tao Te Ching, Taoism, Done, Pursuit Of Knowledge, Tao Ching

The best leaders are those their people hardly know exist. The next best is a leader who is loved and praised. Next comes the one who is feared. The worst one is the leader that is despised ... The best leaders value their words, and use them sparingly. When they have accomplished their task, the people say, "Amazing! We did it, all by ourselves!

- Laozi

topic: People, Leader, Tao Te Ching, Tao Ching, Tao Te Ching Leadership

In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple.

- Laozi

topic: Simple, Thinking, Dwelling, Work Family, Tao Ching

The Tao is infinite, eternal. Why is it eternal? It was never born; thus it can never die. Why is it infinite? It has no desires for itself; thus it is present for all beings. The Master stays behind; that is why she is ahead. She is detached from all things; that is why she is one with them. Because she has let go of herself, she is perfectly fulfilled.

- Laozi

topic: Letting Go, Desire, Tao, Detached, Tao Ching

Stop thinking, and end your problems.

- Laozi

topic: Thinking, Tao Te Ching, Taoism, Yes And No, Overthinking

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Watch your step.

- Thomas S. Monson

topic: Inspirational, Life, Travel, Solo Travel, Soul Life

Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner.

- Laozi

topic: Not Caring, People, Tao Te Ching, Tao Ching, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Yet mystery and imagination arise from the same source. This source is called darkness ... Darkness within darkness, the gateway to all understanding.

- Laozi

topic: Light, Darkness Within, Imagination, Tao Ching, Book Of Tao

If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.

- Laozi

topic: Inspirational, Learning, Tao Te Ching, Knowing Others, Tao Ching

Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know. Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity. Be like the Tao. It can't be approached or withdrawn from, benefited or harmed, honored or brought into disgrace. It gives itself up continually. That is why it endures.

- Laozi

topic: Block, Dust, Giving, Primal, Glare

He who does not trust enough will not be trusted.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Trust, Taoism, Doe, Not Trusting, Trust Issues

When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad. Being and non-being create each other. Difficult and easy support each other. Long and short define each other. High and low depend on each other. Before and after follow each other. Therefore the Master acts without doing anything and teaches without saying anything. Things arise and she lets them come; things disappear and she lets them go. She has but doesn't possess, acts but doesn't expect. When her work is done, she forgets it. That is why it lasts forever.

- Laozi

topic: Beauty, Beautiful, Difficult And Easy, Before And After, Highs And Lows

...The sage, traveling all day, Does not lose sight of his baggage. Though there are beautiful things to be seen, He remains unattached and calm.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Beautiful, Sight, Doe, Tao Ching

Yielding is the way of the Tao.

- Laozi

topic: Acceptance, Taoism, Way, Tao Ching

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.

- Laozi

topic: Life, Change, Spiritual, Way In Life, Natural Things

So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind; Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily; Sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness; Sometimes one is up and sometimes down. Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complacency.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Strength, Breathing, Balance, Tao Ching, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.

- Mao Zedong

topic: Love, Inspirational, Life, Joy Of Giving, Kindness Generosity

Try to change it and you will ruin it. Try to hold it and you will lose it.

- Laozi

topic: Tao Te Ching, Trying, Ruins, Tao Ching, Tao Wisdom

He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know.

- Laozi

source: Tao-te Ching ch. 56 (translation by Wing-Tsit Chan)

topic: Spiritual, Book, Communication, Chinese Philosopher, Tao Ching