Laozi

When Simplicity is broken up, it is made into instruments. Evolved individuals who employ them, are made into leaders. In this way, the Great System is United.

Intelligent people know others. Enlightened people know themselves.

The Tao is told is not the Tao.

The Tao principle is what happens of itself.

When you accurately perceive the fluidity of things, you can also begin to perceive the constancy behind them: the creative, transformative, boundless, immutable Tao.

The Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to yin and yang. Yin and yang give birth to all things... The complete whole is the complete whole. So also is any part the complete whole... But forget about understanding and harmonizing and making all things one. The universe is already a harmonious oneness; just realize it.

The Tao's principle is spontaneity.

Heaven and Earth last for ever. Why do Heaven and Earth last for ever? They are unborn, so ever living. The sage stays behind, thus he is ahead. He is detached, thus at one with all. Through selfless action, he attains fulfillment.

The truest sayings are paradoxical.

So the unwanting soul sees what's hidden, and the ever-wanting soul sees only what it wants.

Goodness in words creates trust, goodness in thinking creates depth, goodness in giving creates love.

If you want to be given everything, give everything up.

If lightning is the anger of the gods, then the gods are concerned mostly about trees.

Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear.

Become totally empty _x000D_ _x000D_ Quiet the restlessness of the mind _x000D_ _x000D_ Only then will you witness everything unfolding from emptiness

When there is no desire, all things are at peace

Not-knowing is true knowledge. _x000D_ _x000D_ Presuming to know is a disease._x000D_ _x000D_ First realize that you are sick;_x000D_ _x000D_ then you can move toward health.

He who stands on tiptoe _x000D_ _x000D_ doesn't stand firm. _x000D_ _x000D_ He who rushes ahead _x000D_ _x000D_ doesn't go far. _x000D_ _x000D_ He who tries to shine _x000D_ _x000D_ dims his own light. _x000D_ _x000D_ He who defines himself _x000D_ _x000D_ can't know who he really is. _x000D_ _x000D_ He who has power over others _x000D_ _x000D_ can't empower himself. _x000D_ _x000D_ He who clings to his work _x000D_ _x000D_ will create nothing that endures.

Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity

A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants. A good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is.

Tao invariably takes no action, and yet there is nothing left undone.