Best 88 Lao Tzu Quotes About Letting Reality Be Reality
In 6th century BC in China, an important philosophical work was written by the philosopher Lao Tzu (literally meaning “Old Sage”). He was contemporary with another great Chinese philosopher, Confucius, and their work is reflected in this collection of quotes by the former (you can also read Confucius quotes, here). Lao Tzu’s conception of the world is truly inspiring, so feel free to spread his wisdom through any social medium. We post our content on Pinterest and these Lao Tzu quotes will definitely make an impression – as they have for more than 2500 years.
You can find out more about him by on this Wikipedia.com article.
Table of Contents
- Who Was Lao Tzu?
- Lao Tzu Quotes about Love
- Short Lao Tzu Quotes
- Insightful Lao Tzu Quotes about Life
- Powerful and Motivational Quotes by Lao Tzu
- Lao Tzu Inspirational Quotes
- Lao Tzu Quotes about Leadership
- Lao Tzu Quotes about Self-awareness
- Lao Tzu Quotes about Change
- Lao Tzu Quotes on Images
Who Was Lao Tzu?
Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism, was an ancient Chinese philosopher. His renowned work, the Tao Te Ching, remains influential today. Little is known about his life. He sought solitude, disillusioned by corruption. On his journey, a guardian urged him to write his teachings. The result was the Tao Te Ching, a guide on living harmoniously. Lao Tzu emphasized simplicity, humility, and inner stillness.
His teachings gained popularity over the centuries, and Taoism emerged as one of the major philosophical and religious traditions in China. While the historical accuracy of Lao Tzu’s existence remains a subject of debate, his legacy is undeniably significant. His influence can be seen not only in Taoism but also in Chinese culture, literature, art, and beyond.
Lao Tzu’s wisdom continues to inspire individuals around the world seeking guidance in their personal and spiritual lives. His teachings remind us of the importance of balance, harmony, and embracing the natural rhythms of existence. Lao Tzu’s enigmatic persona and timeless wisdom make him a figure that transcends time and place, leaving an indelible mark on the human understanding of the universe and our place within it.
Lao Tzu Quotes about Love
Discover profound wisdom on love with these insightful Lao Tzu quotes.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. Lao Tzu
Love is a decision – not an emotion! 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
Love is of all the passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart, and the senses. Lao Tzu
He who defends with love will be secure; Heaven will save him, and protect him with love. Lao Tzu
Love
Embracing Tao, you become embraced.
Supple, breathing gently, you become reborn.
Clearing your vision, you become clear.
Nurturing your beloved, you become impartial.
Opening your heart, you become accepted.
Accepting the World, you embrace Tao.
Bearing and nurturing,
Creating but not owning,
Giving without demanding,
Controlling without authority,
This is love.
Lao Tzu
Short Lao Tzu Quotes
Experience the essence of Lao Tzu’s teachings in these short yet impactful quotes.
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. Lao Tzu
Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know. Lao Tzu
When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you. Lao Tzu
The best fighter is never angry. Lao Tzu
Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong. Lao Tzu
Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner. Lao Tzu
Silence is a source of Great Strength. Lao Tzu
Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear? Lao Tzu
Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear. Lao Tzu
Perfection is the willingness to be imperfect. Lao Tzu
The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long. Lao Tzu
To see things in the seed, that is genius. Lao Tzu
New Beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. Lao Tzu
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Lao Tzu
Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing. Lao Tzu
Music in the soul can be heard by the universe. Lao Tzu
Act without expectation. Lao Tzu
To attain knowledge, add things everyday. To attain wisdom, remove things every day. Lao Tzu
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. Lao Tzu
If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it. Lao Tzu
By letting go it all gets done. Lao Tzu
Loss is not as bad as wanting more. Lao Tzu
Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear. Lao Tzu
Insightful Lao Tzu Quotes about Life
Gain valuable insights into life through the words of Lao Tzu.
There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent. Lao Tzu
Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.
Lao Tzu
Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. Lao Tzu
A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live. Lao Tzu
The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth. Lao Tzu
Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides. Lao Tzu
The Way to do is to be. Lao Tzu
If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.
Lao Tzu
Stop thinking, and end your problems. Lao Tzu
If you understand others you are smart.
If you understand yourself you are illuminated.
If you overcome others you are powerful.
If you overcome yourself you have strength.
If you know how to be satisfied you are rich.
If you can act with vigor, you have a will.
If you don’t lose your objectives you can be long-lasting.
If you die without loss, you are eternal.
Lao Tzu
Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.
Lao Tzu
Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment. Lao Tzu
So the unwanting soul
sees what’s hidden,
and the ever-wanting soul
sees only what it wants.
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
The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself. Lao Tzu
If a person seems wicked, do not cast him away. Awaken him with your words, elevate him with your deeds, repay his injury with your kindness. Do not cast him away; cast away his wickedness. Lao Tzu
Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it. Lao Tzu
Stop leaving and you will arrive. Stop searching and you will see. Stop running away and you will be found. Lao Tzu
Powerful and Motivational Quotes by Lao Tzu
Ignite your inner drive with these powerful and motivational quotes by Lao Tzu.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao Tzu
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. Lao Tzu
There is no illusion greater than fear. Lao Tzu
Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream. Lao Tzu
If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading. Lao Tzu
Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here. Lao Tzu
Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing. Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Inspirational Quotes
Be inspired and uplifted by these timeless quotes from Lao Tzu.
Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.’ Lao Tzu
Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her. Lao Tzu
Respond to anger with virtue. Deal with difficulties while they are still easy. Handle the great while it is still small. Lao Tzu
Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity. Lao Tzu
Would you like to save the world from the degradation and destruction it seems destined for? Then step away from shallow mass movements and quietly go to work on your own self-awareness. If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation. Lao Tzu
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.
Lao Tzu
At the center of your being
you have the answer;
you know who you are
and you know what you want.
Lao Tzu
Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness. Lao Tzu
Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. Lao Tzu
If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. 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. Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes about Leadership
Uncover the essence of true leadership with these enlightening quotes by Lao Tzu.
A leader is best
When people barely know he exists
Of a good leader, who talks little,
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
They will say, “We did this ourselves.”
Lao Tzu
If you wish to be out front, then act as if you were behind. Lao Tzu
He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still. 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
To a mind that is still the whole universe surrenders. 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
All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. humility gives it its power. if you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. if you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them. Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes about Self-awareness
Explore the path of self-awareness with these thought-provoking quotes from Lao Tzu.
He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened. Lao Tzu
Just remain in the center; watching. And then forget that you are there. Lao Tzu
When the student is ready the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready… The teacher will Disappear. Lao Tzu
If you search everywhere, yet cannot find what you are seeking, it is because what you seek is already in your possession. Lao Tzu
Be like water. Lao Tzu
Darkness within darkness. The gateway to all understanding. Lao Tzu
The way of heaven is to help and not harm. Lao Tzu
The wise man is one who knows what he does not know. Lao Tzu
When the work is done, and one’s name is becoming distinguished, to withdraw into obscurity is the way of Heaven. Lao Tzu
Chanting is no more holy than listening to the murmur of a stream, couting prayer beads no more scared than simply breathing, religious robed no more spiritual than work clothes. Lao Tzu
Close your mouth,
block off your senses,
blunt your sharpness,
untie your knots,
soften your glare,
settle your dust.
This is the primal identity.
Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes about Change
Embrace the transformative power of change with these enlightening quotes by Lao Tzu.
If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve. Lao Tzu
Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself. Lao Tzu
To understand the limitation of things, desire them. Lao Tzu
I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Lao Tzu
The difficult problems in life always start off being simple. Great affairs always start off being small. Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu Quotes on Images
Immerse yourself in the wisdom of Lao Tzu through these captivating quotes presented on images.
You may also like:
Confucius Quotes | A Fountain of Wise Words
92 Quotes About Justice (That Will Make You Question What Is Fair)