Lao Tzu Quotes and Sayings

If the people are simple and free from desire, then the clever ones never dare to interfere.
 

The True Person does not have an individual heart
but uses the heart of the people.
 

Those who know do not speak.
Those who speak do not know.
 

When desires are restrained there will be peace,
and then all under heaven will be at rest.
 

A person of high virtue is not conscious of virtue
and therefore possesses Virtue.
A person of little virtue tries to be virtuous
and therefore lacks Virtue.
 

True Persons do not hoard.
Using all they have for others, they still have more.
Giving all they have to others, they are richer than before.
 

Surrender your self-interest.
Love others as much as you love yourself.
Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven.
 

Those who hold fast to the Tao
do not try to fill themselves to the brim.
Because they do not try to be full
they can be worn out and yet ever new.
 

People often ruin their ventures
when they are on the verge of success.
So, be as careful at the end as at the beginning,
and your work will not be ruined.
 

The best leader is one
whose existence is barely known by the people.
Next comes one whom they love and praise.
Next comes one they fear.
Next comes one they defy.
 

I have three treasures that I cherish and hold fast.
The first is gentleness,
the second is simplicity,
the third is daring not to be first
among all things under heaven.
 

Better to stop in time than to fill to the brim.
Hone a blade to the sharpest point, and it will soon be blunt.
Fill your house with gold and jade, and no one can protect it.
Be prideful about wealth and position,
and you bring disasters upon yourself.
Retire when the work is done.
This is the way of heaven.