39 Lao Tzu quotes for spiritual enlightenment

Lao Tzu, also known by the names of Laozi and Lao-Tze, was a very wise philosopher of ancient China, supposedly born in 604 BC, although his existence remains a legend. He is regarded as the founder of Taoism and author of Tao Te Ching. His inspirational and spiritual quotes have lived on to become legendary in the eyes of almost everyone who hears them.

Below is a collection of 39 amazing Lao Tzu quotes.

1. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
2. “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous modifications. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let events flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”
3. “Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles is necessary to begin with a single step.”
4. “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.”
5. “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”
6. “To the consciousness that is still, the whole universe surrenders.”
7. “Kindness in words creates confidence, kindness in thinking creates profoundness and kindness in giving creates love.”
8. “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.”
9. “I have just three aspects to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.”
10. “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.”
11. “When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”
12. “Silence is a source of great strength.”
13. “In dwelling, live close to the ground. And in thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t aim to control. And in work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.”
14. “Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”
15. “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
16. “Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.”
17. “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.”
18. “The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.”

19. “Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.”
20. “Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.”
21. “Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.”
22. “He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.”
23. “If you realize that all aspects suffer modifications, there is nothing you will pursue to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.”
24. “To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect.”
25. “Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.”
26. “At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.”
27. “One can not reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others.”
28. “If you would take, you need first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.”
29. “Act without striving. Work without interfering. Find the flavour in what is flavourless.”
30. “Be the chief but never the lord.”
31. “By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you pursue and pursue. The world is beyond the winning.” – Lao Tzu
32. “Do not look only at yourself, and you will see much. Do not justify yourself, and you will be distinguished. Do not brag, and you will have merit. Do not be prideful, and your work will endure.”
33. “In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.”
34. “Man’s enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.”
35. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
36. “Surrender your self-interest. Love others as much as you love yourself. Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven.”
37. “Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.”
38. “To lead people walk behind them.”
39. “Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.”

yogaesoteric
December 6, 2021

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