Quotes on Taoism

Who has excess and supplies the world? Only the one who follows the Way.

Some have lavish garments, carry sharp swords, and feast on food and drink. They possess more than they can spend. This is called the vanity of robbers. It is certainly not the Way.

People starve. The rulers consume too much with their taxes. That is why people starve.

Searching for precious goods leads astray.

Keeping plenty of gold and jade in the palace makes no one able to defend it.

I have no desire to desire, and people become like the uncarved wood by themselves.

Without desire there is stillness, and the world settles by itself.

See others as yourself. See families as your family. See towns as your town. See countries as your country. See worlds as your world.

The highest benevolence acts without purpose.

I have three treasures that I cherish. The first is compassion. The second is moderation. The third is not claiming to be first in the world.

People turn their eyes and ears to him (the sage), and the sage cares for them like his own children.

If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow them from behind.

Only I am clumsy, like drifting on the waves of the sea, without direction.

Supreme good is like water. Water greatly benefits all things, without conflict. It flows through places that people loathe. Thereby it is close to the Way.

The longer you travel, the less you know.

Without looking through the window, you can see Heaven's Way.

Without stepping out the door, you can know the world.

The sage acts without taking credit. He accomplishes without dwelling on it. He does not want to display his worth.

The sage does not strive to be great. Thereby he can accomplish the great.

Those who are self-righteous are not prominent.

Not praising the deserving prevents envy.