Lao Tzu quotes.

“Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?”

“He who controls others may be powerful, but he who masters himself is mightier still.”

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

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

“Truthful words are not beautiful beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive persuasive words are not good.”

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

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

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

“A man with outward courage dares to die: a man with inner courage dares to live.”

“Because of a great love, one is courageous.”

“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.”

“Confidence is the greatest friend.”

“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.”

“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.”

“Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it.”

“The words of truth are always paradoxical.”

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

“We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.”

“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.”

“Of all that is good, sublimity is supreme. Succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful. Furtherance is the agreement of all that is just. Perseverance is the foundation of all actions.”

“One can not reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others.”

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

“To lead the people, walk behind them.”

“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.”

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

“Great acts are made up of small deeds.”

“Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.”

“Empty yourself of everything - let the mind become still.”

“Freedom from desire leads to inner peace.”

“People in their handlings of affairs often fail when they are about to succeed. If one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning, there will be no failure.”

“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.”

“Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.”

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

“Silence is a source of great strength.”

“Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.”

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

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

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

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

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

“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.”

“The heart that gives, gathers.”

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

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”

“From caring comes courage.”

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

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

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”

“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”

“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.”

“If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. if you are at peace, you are living in the present.”

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

“New beginnings are disguised as painful endings.”

“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small.”

“The best fighter is never angry.”

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

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

“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.'”