John > John's Quotes

“The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

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

“Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time,' is like saying, 'I don't want to.”
― Lao Tzu

“A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

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

“To lead people, walk beside them ...
As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence.
The next best, the people honor and praise.
The next, the people fear; and the next, the people hate ...
When the best leader's work is done the people say,
We did it ourselves!”
― Lao Tzu

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

“Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment”
― Lao Tzu

“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.”
― 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

“There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.”
― Lao Tzu

“Men are born soft and supple; dead they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail.”
― Lao Tzu

“I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.”
― Lao Tzu

“Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it.”
― Lao Tzu

“Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear.”
― Lao Tzu

“Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of
softness overcoming hardness.”
― Lao Zi

“We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.

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

We hammer wood for a house,
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.

We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.”
― Lao Tzu

“What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.”
― Lao Tzu

“Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.”
― Lao Tzu

“To understand the limitation of things, desire them.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“One who is too insistent on his own views finds few to agree with him.”
― Lao-Tzu

“Great acts are made up of small deeds.”
― Lao-Tzu

“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

“Do you imagine the universe is agitated? Go into the desert at night and look at the stars. This practice should answer the question.”
― Lao Tzu

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

“As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.”
― Lao Tzu

“The difficult problems in life always start off being simple. Great affairs always start off being small.”
― Lao Tzu

“Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace.
Watch the turmoil of beings,
but contemplate their return.

Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.

If you don't realize the source,
you stumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize where you come from,
you naturally become tolerant,
disinterested, amused,
kindhearted as a grandmother,
dignified as a king.
Immersed in the wonder of the Tao,
you can deal with whatever life brings you,
and when death comes, you are ready.”
― Tao Te-Ching

“Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.”
― Lao Tzu

“Do not conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance. Thorns spring up when an army passes. Years of misery follow a great victory. Do only what needs to be done without using violence.”
― Lao Tzu