Top 500 Laozi Quotes (2024 Update)
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251. “The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.”

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

253. “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

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

261. “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

262. “The truest sayings are paradoxical.”

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

266. “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

267. “Those who boast are not respected.”

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

276. “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

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

— Laozi

278. “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

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

— Laozi

280. “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

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

284. “If good happens, good; if bad happens, good.”

— Laozi

285. “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

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

— Laozi

287. “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

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

— Laozi

289. “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

290. “Misfortune is the root of good fortune; good fortune gives birth to misfortune.”

— Laozi

291. “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

292. “A good door needs no lock, still it can’t be opened.”

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

295. “Thirty spokes are joined in the wheel’s hub. The hole in the middle makes it useful.”

— Laozi

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

— Laozi

297. “When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.”

— Laozi

298. “Abandon knowledge and your worries are over.”

— Laozi

299. “Those who know do not speak; Those who speak do not know. Stop up the openings, Close down the doors, Rub off the sharp edges. Unravel all confusion. Harmonize the light, Give up contention: This is called finding the unity of life.”

— Laozi

300. “That which is achieved the most, still has the whole of its future yet to be achieved.”

— Laozi