Lao Tzu

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

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.

He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty.

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

Silence is a source of great strength.

Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.

Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.

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.

He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.

To see things in the seed, that is genius.

Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.

In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.

The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'

When a nation is filled with strife, then do patriots flourish.

An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.

Because of a great love, one is courageous.

To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect.

Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.

Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.

The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.

To lead people walk behind them.

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.

Great acts are made up of small deeds.

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.

By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning.

A scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.

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.

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

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.

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

Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.

Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.

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

Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it.

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.

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

From caring comes courage.

Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.

The words of truth are always paradoxical.

Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.

All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.

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

The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.

When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'

He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.

At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.

He who is contented is rich.

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.

Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.

I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any.