Best 485 quotes in «taoism quotes» category

Knowing the future is the flower of the Way, and the beginning of folly.

Loss is not as bad as wanting more.

Many sections are taken up with political discussions and how the way of the ruler, the merchant, the householder, and the army interact with the Tao.

Love the whole world as if it were your self; then you will truly care for all things.

Never take over the world to tamper with it. Those who want to tamper with it are not fit to take over the world.

No misfortune is worse than underestimating the enemy. Underestimating the enemy, I risk losing my treasure.

Not valuing wealth prevents theft.

One should not seek happiness, just nurture the spirit of joy as the basis of summoning happiness. One should not try to escape misfortune, just get rid of viciousness as a means of avoiding misfortune.

People are hard to govern. The rulers interfere with too much. That is why people are hard to govern.

Peace and quiet are preferred. Victory should not be praised.

Peace and quiet govern the world.

People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge.

Only I am clumsy, like drifting on the waves of the sea, without direction.

People are born soft and weak. They die hard and stiff.

People starve. The rulers consume too much with their taxes. That is why people starve.

People's shortcomings should be treated with tact; if you expose them crudely, this is attacking weakness with a weakness. When people are stubborn, it requires skill to influence them; if you treat them with anger and spite, this is treating stubbornness with stubbornness.

Racing through the field and hunting make the mind wild.

Quiet your mind and stop judging and resisting and manipulating the natural way.

Taoism is the gentle way. The path of least resistence.

See others as yourself. See families as your family. See towns as your town. See countries as your country. See worlds as your world.

Simple, like uncarved wood.

Some have lavish garments, carry sharp swords, and feast on food and drink. They possess more than they can spend. This is called the vanity of robbers. It is certainly not the Way.

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

Taoism is not a religion, although perhaps it has been made into one by some people. Lao Tsu's way of life occurs in any spiritual philosophy.

Rule your mind with serenity rather than with force and manipulation.

The great Way is very straight, but people prefer to deviate.

That so few understand me is why I am treasured.

The career of a sage is of two kinds: He is either honored by all in the world, Like a flower waving its head, Or else he disappears into the silent forest.

The dreams of existence of that we call time, space, matter, subject, object, yin, yang - everything flows forth from this tai chi.

The hard and stiff are death's companions. The soft and weak are life's companions.

The highest tone is hard to hear.

The highest virtue seems as low as a valley.

The highest virtue is not virtuous. Therefore it has virtue. The lowest virtue holds on to virtue. Therefore it has no virtue.

The I Ching tells us that for every ending there is a new beginning. In other words, what appears like a transition isn't really a transition; it's a continuum of existence. If you close your eyes for a moment the room will appear to go away. But does it really? Open your eyes again and the room will still be there. That's all death is.

The man who has some respect for his person keeps his carcass out of sight, hides himself as perfectly as he can.

The Master observes the world, but trusts his inner vision. He allows things to come and go. His heart is as open as the sky.

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.

The biggest in the world is small in its beginning.

The more you know the less you understand.

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

The most complete seems lacking. Yet in use it is not exhausted.

The most difficult in the world must be easy in its beginning.

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

The perfect square lacks corners.

There are two choices available in duality - one side or the other side. Everyting is formed from that.

There is one appointed supreme executioner. Truly, trying to take the place of the supreme executioner is like trying to carve wood like a master carpenter. Of those who try to carve wood like a master carpenter, there are few who do not injure their hands.

The rigid tree will be felled.

The rigid and big belong below. The soft and weak belong above.

The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.

The sturdiest virtue seems fragile.