Rab Hutch > Rab's Quotes

“An over sharpened sword cannot last long. ”
― Lao Tzu

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

“If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“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.”
― Lao Tzu

“The wise man is one who, knows, what he does not know.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“She does not show herself, and therefore is apparent. She does not affirm herself, and therefore is acknowledged. She does not boast and therefore has merit. She does not strive and therefore is successful. It is exactly because she does not contend, that nobody can contend with her.”
― Lao Tzu

“Stop leaving and you will arrive. Stop searching and you will see. Stop running away and you will be found.”
― Lao Tzu

“all streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. humility gives it its power. if you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. if you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.”
― Lao Tzu

“Respond to anger with virtue. Deal with difficulties while they are still easy. Handle the great while it is still small.”
― Lao Tzu

“He who stands on tiptoe
doesn't stand firm.
He who rushes ahead
doesn't go far.
He who tries to shine
dims his own light.
He who defines himself
can't know who he really is.
He who has power over others
can't empower himself.
He who clings to his work
will create nothing that endures.

If you want to accord with the Tao,
just do your job, then let go.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“Colors blind the eye
Sounds deafen the ear.
Flavors numb the taste.
Thoughts weaken the mind.
Desires wither the heart.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“If you do not value rare treasures, you will stop others from stealing.”
― Lao Tzu

“When the highest type of men hear Tao,
They diligently practice it.
When the average type of men hear Tao,
They half believe in it.
When the lowest type of men hear Tao,
They laugh heartily at it.
Without the laugh, there is no Tao”
― Lao Tzu

“Darkness within darkness. The gateway to all understanding ”
― Lao Tzu (Lao Tse)

“Is it not through her selflessness that she is able to perfect herself?”
― Lao Tzu

“True perfection seems imperfect,
yet it is perfectly itself.
True fullness seems empty,
yet it is fully present.

True straightness seems crooked.
True wisdom seems foolish.
True art seems artless.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“Where the Mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that is subtle and wonderful.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“He who knows he has enough is rich. Perseverance is a sign of will power. He who stays where he is endures. To die but not to perish is to be eternally present.”
― Lao Tzu

“With no desire, at rest and still, All things go right as of their will.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“Without opening your door,
you can open your heart to the world.
Without looking out your window,
you can see the essence of the Tao.


The more you know,
the less you understand.

The Master arrives without leaving,
sees the light without looking,
achieves without doing a thing.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“Wasting energy to obtain rare objects only impedes one's growth.”
― Lao-Tzu

“Some say that my teaching is nonsense.
Other call it lofty but impractical.
But to those who have looked inside themselves,
this nonsense makes perfect sense.
And to those who put it into practice,
this loftiness has roots that go deep.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. 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.”
― Lao Tzu

“Manage affairs before they are in a mess.”
― Lao Tzu

“It is the child that sees the primordial secret of Nature and it is the child of ourselves we return to. the child within us is simple and daring enough to live the Secret.”
― Lao Tzu

“The master dwells in the substantial and not in the superficial. Rests in the fruit and not in the flower.”
― Lao Tzu