Lao Tzu

simplicity patience passion treasure action thought

“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, (604-531 BC)

know intelligence other yourself wisdom master strenght power

“Knowing others is intelligence;

knowing yourself is true wisdom.

Mastering others is strength;

mastering yourself is true power.”

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

traveler plan fixed intent arrive

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

know speak

“Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

fighter angry

“The best fighter is never angry.”

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

time created want

“Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time,' is like saying, 'I don't want to.”

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

care other think prisoner

“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

nature hurry accomplish

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

understand smart illuminated powerful strength rich eternal

“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, (604-531 BC)

kindness word confidence think profound give love

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

direction change end heading

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

knowledge wisdom add subtract

"To attain knowledge add things every day. To attain wisdom subtract things every day"

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

people honor leader fail fullfill

“If you fail to honor your people, they will fail to honor you; It is said of a good leader that when the work is done, the aim fulfilled, The people will say, “We did this ourselves.” "

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

doing nothing better busy

“Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.”

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)

spokes wheel hole clay pot emptiness non-being

“We join spokes together in a wheel,

but it is the center hole

that makes the wagon move.

We shape clay into a pot,

but it is the emptiness inside

that holds whatever we want.

We hammer wood for a house,

but it is the inner space

that makes it livable.

We work with being,

but non-being is what we use.”

— Lao Tzu, (604-531 BC)