Tao Te Ching Leadership Quotes:

He who is attached to things will suffer much.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Suffering, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Going forward seems like retreat.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Retreat, Seems, Tao Te Ching Leadership

The farther you go, the less you know.

- Laozi

source: Laozi, Herrymon Maurer (1985). “Tao , the way of the ways”, Schocken

topic: Knows, Tao Te Ching Leadership, Tao Wisdom

For one gains by losing And loses by gaining.

- Laozi

topic: Gains, Losing, Tao Te Ching Leadership

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

- Witter Bynner

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

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.

- Laozi

topic: Inspirational, Leadership, Wisdom, Managing People, Funny Leadership

The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes.

- Tony Blair

topic: Motivational, Leadership, Art, True Leader, Funny Leadership

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

- Laozi

topic: Inspirational, Knowing, Know Yourself, Personal Power, Spiritual Wisdom

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

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. 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. The Tao nourishes by not forcing. By not dominating, the Master leads.

- Laozi

topic: Leadership, Wise, Men, Tao Te Ching Leadership, Book Of Tao

Why are the people rebellious? Because the rulers interfere too much. Therefore they are rebellious.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: People, Too Much, Rebellious, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Great talents ripen late; the highest notes are hard to hear.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Teaching, Talent, Notes, Great Talent, Tao Te Ching Leadership

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

Deal with it before it happens. Set things in order before there is confusion.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Order, Confusion, Confusing, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Observe how endings become beginnings.

- Laozi

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

What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? What is a bad man but a good man's job? If you do not remember this, You will get lost, No matter how intelligent you are. It is the great secret.

- Laozi

topic: Teacher, Jobs, Intelligent, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Those who know do not talk. Those who talk do not know.

- Laozi

source: Laozi, Lao-Tzu, Stephen Addiss, Stanley Lombardo (2007). “Tao Te Ching”, p.55, Shambhala Publications

topic: Education, Tao Te Ching, Intelligence, Sharpness, Tao Te Ching Leadership

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

The world is ruled by letting things take their course. It cannot be ruled by interfering.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Letting Go, World, Courses, Tao Te Ching Leadership

I have three treasures which I hold and keep. The first is mercy; the second is economy. The third is daring not to be ahead of others. From mercy comes courage; from economy comes generosity; From humility comes leadership.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Humility, Generosity, Treasure, 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

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

- Laozi

topic: Relationship, Respect, Being Yourself, Respect Women, Women Self Respect

Why is the sea king of a hundred streams? Because it lies below them... If the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility. If he would lead them, he must follow behind. In this way when the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Kings, Lying, Humility, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When men lack a sense of awe, there will be disaster.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Men, Tao, Disaster, Tao Te Ching Leadership

The truth often sounds paradoxical.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Truth, Sound, Paradoxical, Tao Te Ching Leadership

...the more you talk of it, the less you understand.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (2016). “The Tao Te Ching: Annotated Edition”, p.97, Dudeism LLC

topic: Tao Te Ching, Taoism, Saints And Sinners, Tao Te Ching Leadership, Book Of Tao

My teachings are easy to understand and easy to put into practice. Yet your intellect will never grasp them, and if you try to practice them, you'll fail. My teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning? If you want to know me, look inside your heart.

- Laozi

topic: Teaching, Heart, Practice, Tao Te Ching Leadership, Tao Wisdom

He who has achieved this state Is unconcerned with friends and enemies, With good and harm, with honor and disgrace. This therefore is the highest state of man.

- Laozi

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

topic: Friendship, Men, Honor, Friends And Enemies, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

- Laozi

topic: Love, Relationship, Positive, Touch Someone, Courage To Change

See simplicity in the complicated. Achieve greatness in little things

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Badass, Greatness, Simplicity, Tao Te Ching Leadership

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

- Laozi

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

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.

- Laozi

topic: Life, Happiness, Spiritual, Life Is Simple, Discovering Yourself

The more laws and restrictions there are, The poorer people become. The sharper men's weapons, The more trouble in the land.

- Laozi

source: "Tao te ching".

topic: Law, People, Liberty, 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

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

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?

- Laozi

topic: Thinking, Self, Tao Te Ching, Tao Te Ching Leadership, Book Of Tao

The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.

- Theodore Hesburgh

source: Interview with Philip Scarpino, tobiascenter.iu.edu. January 6, 2009.

topic: Leadership, Business, Blow, True Leader, Innovative Leadership

Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear.

- Laozi

topic: Inspirational, Dangerous, Hollow, Feet On The Ground, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Therefore the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death. The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Life, Gentle, Disciple, Tao Te Ching Leadership

The Tao is like a well; used but never used up.

- Laozi

topic: Tao Te Ching, Taoism, Used, Tao Te Ching Leadership, Book Of Tao

It is fitting for a great nation to yield.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Yield, Tao, Fitting, Tao Te Ching Leadership

In caring for others and serving heaven, There is nothing like using restraint.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Caring, Heaven, Tao, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Stop trying to control. Let go of fixed plans and concepts, and the world will govern itself.

- Laozi

topic: Letting Go, Taoism, Trying, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men doesn't try to force issues or defeat enemies by force of arms. For every force there is a counterforce. Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself. The Master does his job and then stops. He understands that the universe is forever out of control, and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Tao. Because he believes in himself, he doesn't try to convince others. Because he is content with himself, he doesn't need others' approval. Because he accepts himself, the whole world accepts him.

- Laozi

topic: Jobs, Believe, Men, Rebound, Tao Te Ching Leadership

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.

- Laozi

topic: Knives, Blunt, Approach, Kitchen Knives, Spills

In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.

- Laozi

source: Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

topic: Learning, Taoism, Pursuit, Tao Te Ching Leadership