Lao Tzu was a legendary Chinese philosopher of the sixth century B. C. who is usually regarded as the founder of Taoism, and his works have influenced Chinese culture in many ways. Lao Tzu is known for his poetry, philosophy and paintings which put a lot of emphasis on people living in harmony with the unseen and also with all things in nature.
Tzu’s sayings especially urged for mankind to live in contentment whatever their state, and his works were widely embraced by various anti-authoritarian movements. Many of his sayings teach about how to manage anger, how to have inner peace, self control and serenity. It is said that Tzu got disappointed and discouraged by the moral decay of his times and he left his home, never to be heard of again.
Famous Quotes by Lao Tzu
The best way to live at peace with the world is to first of all find inner peace, and self discovery is a journey that is brought out in many of Lao Tzu’s quotes. Here are some of the famous quotes by Lao Tzu that you may find some inspiration from.
Do not look only at yourself, and you will see much. Do not justify yourself, and you will be distinguished. Do not brag, and you will have merit. Do not be prideful, and your work will endure.
– Lao Tzu
He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
– Lao Tzu
Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it.
– Lao Tzu
There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.
– Lao Tzu
Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.
– Lao Tzu
He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.
– Lao Tzu
Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.
– Lao Tzu
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
– Lao Tzu
Silence is a source of great strength.
– Lao Tzu
If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
– Lao Tzu
Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.
– Lao Tzu
To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect.
– Lao Tzu
If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.
– Lao Tzu
Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.
– Lao Tzu
Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.
– Lao Tzu
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
– Lao Tzu
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.
– Lao Tzu
Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.
– Lao Tzu
Act without expectation.
– Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes about Life
You can reach for the sayings of this wise man and seek to better your own life before turning to change the world. His quotes are very inspiring to the person who is looking to make a difference in their own life and in the world around.
A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.
– Lao Tzu
If you want to lead them you must place yourself behind them.
– Lao Tzu
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.
– Lao Tzu
Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.
– Lao Tzu
Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of happiness.
– Lao Tzu
He who knows others is wise; He who know himself is enlightened.
– Lao Tzu
He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty.
– Lao Tzu
If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never be truly fulfilled.
– Lao Tzu
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.
– Lao Tzu
Stop leaving and you will arrive. Stop searching and you will see. Stop running away and you will be found.
– Lao Tzu
To attain knowledge, add things everyday. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.
– Lao Tzu
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
– Lao Tzu
Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.
– Lao Tzu
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.
– Lao Tzu
Inspirational Lao Tzu Quotes
Get inspiration and motivation from Lao Tzu’s words of wisdom. We also put some of his notable quotes on picture which you can share on your social media network.
Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
– Lao Tzu
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
– Lao Tzu
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.
– Lao Tzu
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
– Lao Tzu
All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.
– Lao Tzu
Great acts are made up of small deeds.
– Lao Tzu
The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.
– Lao Tzu
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
– Lao Tzu
Loss is not as bad as wanting more.
– Lao Tzu
Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.
– Lao Tzu
To know that you do not know is the best. To think you know when you do not is a disease. Recognizing this disease as a disease is to be free of it.
– Lao Tzu
Some lose yet gain, others gain and yet lose.
– Lao Tzu
Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.
– Lao Tzu
At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.
– Lao Tzu
If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.
– Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes and Sayings
The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.
– Lao Tzu
The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.
– Lao Tzu
Time is a created thing. To say “I don’t have time,” is like saying, “I don’t want to”.
– Lao Tzu
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
– Lao Tzu
People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge.
– Lao Tzu
He who is contented is rich.
– Lao Tzu
Man’s enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.
– Lao Tzu
The best fighter is never angry.
– Lao Tzu
Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.
– Lao Tzu
He who talks more is sooner exhausted.
– Lao Tzu
Be the chief but never the lord.
– Lao Tzu
To understand the limitation of things, desire them.
– Lao Tzu
Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear.
– Lao Tzu
