Top 500 Laozi Quotes (2025 Update)
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251. “Returning to the source is serenity.”

— Laozi

252. “Few things under heaven bring more benefit than the lessons learned from silence and the actions taken without striving.”

— Laozi

253. “The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.”

— Laozi

254. “The wise man, after learning something new, is afraid to learn anything more until he has put his first lesson into practice.”

— Laozi

255. “Of all that is good, sublimity is supreme. Succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful. Furtherance is the agreement of all that is just. Perseverance is the foundation of all actions.”

— Laozi

256. “Not all spiritual paths lead to the harmonious Oneness. Indeed, most are detours and distractions, nothing more.”

— Laozi

257. “To retreat after a work well done is Heaven’s Way.”

— Laozi

258. “The Way is empty, yet inexhaustible, like an abyss!”

— Laozi

259. “Because clarity and enlightenment are within your own nature, they are regained without moving an inch.”

— Laozi

260. “Make the small big and the few many.”

— Laozi

261. “Don’t impose your will through manipulation of aggressive emotions and actions.”

— Laozi

262. “First, we must do our own personal work, then we tend the necessary work of our family, then our community, then the world.”

— Laozi

263. “No weapon is sharper than will.”

— Laozi

264. “The subtlest of subtleties, this is the gateway to all mysteries.”

— Laozi

265. “Gently eliminating all obstacles to his own understanding, he constantly maintains his unconditional sincerity. His humility, perseverance, and adaptability evoke the response of the universe and fill him with divine light.”

— Laozi

266. “Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.”

— Laozi

267. “The truest sayings are paradoxical.”

— Laozi

268. “Practice non-action. Work without doing.”

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

270. “Those who stay where they are will endure.”

— Laozi

271. “The eye with which you see God is the same eye with which God sees you; one in seeing; one in knowing; one in loving.”

— Laozi

272. “Those who boast are not respected.”

— Laozi

273. “Lessen selfishness and restrain desires.”

— Laozi

274. “Racing and hunting excite man’s heart to madness.”

— Laozi

275. “The highest virtue is not virtuous. Therefore it has virtue. The lowest virtue holds on to virtue. Therefore it has no virtue.”

— Laozi

276. “Goodie-goodies are the thieves of virtue.”

— Laozi

277. “Kind words elicit trust. Kind thoughts create depth. Kind deeds bring love.”

— Laozi

278. “If you really want everything, then give up everything.”

— Laozi

279. “What is firmly rooted cannot be pulled out.”

— Laozi

280. “All things carry yin and embrace yang. They reach harmony by blending with the vital breath.”

— Laozi

281. “If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is dim for the light it gives then all will go well. This is called Acting Naturally.”

— Laozi

282. “To know one’s ignorance is the best part of knowledge.”

— Laozi

283. “Yet mystery and reality emerge from the same source.”

— Laozi

284. “When you realize where you come from, you naturally become tolerant, amused, kindhearted as a grandmother, and dignified as a king. Immersed in wonder, you can deal with whatever life brings you, and when death comes, you are ready.”

— Laozi

285. “Loving, hating, having expectations: all these are attachments. Attachment prevents the growth of one’s true being.”

— Laozi

286. “Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking. Center your country in the Tao and evil will have no power. Not that it isn’t there, but you’ll be able to step out of its way. Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.”

— Laozi

287. “Mold clay into a bowl. The empty space makes it useful.”

— Laozi

288. “Kindness in thought leads to wisdom. Kindness in speech leads to eloquence. Kindness in action leads to love.”

— Laozi

289. “He who prides himself upon wealth and honor hastens his own downfall.”

— Laozi

290. “Act without striving. Work without interfering. Find the flavour in what is flavourless.”

— Laozi

291. “When taxes are too high, people go hungry. When the government is too intrusive, people lose their spirit. Act for the people’s benefit. Trust them; leave them alone.”

— Laozi

292. “Greed for enlightenment and immortality is no different than greed for material wealth. It is self-centered and dualistic, and thus an obstacle to true attainment. Therefore these states are never achieved by those who covet them; rather, they are the reward of the virtuous.”

— Laozi

293. “Realize thy Simple Self, Embrace thy Original Nature.”

— Laozi

294. “Giving to others selflesly and anonymously, radiating light throughout the world and illuminating your own darkness, your virtue becomes a sanctuary for yourself and all beings.”

— Laozi

295. “Be the chief but never the lord.”

— Laozi

296. “Keep your mouth shut, and close up the doors of sight and sound, and as long as you live you will have no vexation. But open your mouth, or become inquisitive, and you will be in trouble all your life long.”

— Laozi

297. “Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.”

— Laozi

298. “The highest virtue does nothing. Yet, nothing needs to be done. The lowest virtue does everything. Yet, much remains to be done.”

— Laozi

299. “A foolish man is always doing, Yet much remains to be done.”

— Laozi

300. “When men lack a sense of awe, there will be disaster.”

— Laozi