"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."
Read quote
10 likes
Quote collection
Laozi quotes (page 25 of 66)
1.3K quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Peace and quiet are preferred. Victory should not be praised."
Read quote
10 likes
"I alone have the mind of a fool, and am all muddled and vague. The people are so smart and bright. While I am just dull and confused."
Read quote
10 likes
"The Way to do is to be."
Read quote
10 likes
"The best soldiers are not warlike; the best fighters do not lose their temper. The greatest conquerors are those who overcome their enemies without strife. The greatest directors of men are those who yield place to others. This is called the Virtue of not striving, the capacity for directing mankind; this is being the compeer of Heaven. It was the highest goal of the ancients."
Read quote
10 likes
"Do nondoing, strive for nonstriving, savor the flavorless, regard the small as important, make much of little, repay enmity with virtue; plan for difficulty when it is still easy, do the great while it is still small. The most difficult things in the world must be done while they are easy; the greatest things in the world must be done while they are small."
Read quote
10 likes
"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."
Read quote
10 likes
"They can see their neighbors. Roosters and dogs can be heard from there. Still, they will age and die without visiting one another."
Read quote
10 likes
"The perfect square lacks corners."
Read quote
10 likes
"It (Tao) is eternally without desire. So, it can be called small. All things return to it, although it does not make itself their ruler. So, it can be called great."
Read quote
10 likes
"To know you have enough is to be rich."
Read quote
10 likes
"Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong."
Read quote
10 likes
"A whale out of water is over-run by ants."
Read quote
10 likes
"He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty."
Read quote
10 likes
"Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation."
Read quote
9 likes
"I observe myself and I come to know others."
Read quote
9 likes
"All action begins in rest... This is the ultimate truth."
Read quote
9 likes
"It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. He who does his duty as his own nature reveals it, never sins."
Read quote
9 likes
"The difficult problems in life always start off being simple. Great affairs always start off being small."
Read quote
9 likes
"How do I know about the world? By what is within me."
Read quote
9 likes