Lao Tzu's famous sayings

1. When misfortunes come, blessings depend on them; when blessings come, misfortunes fall upon them.

2. Because of its selflessness, it can achieve its selfishness.

3. Quietness beats impatience, cold beats heat. Tranquility is the righteousness of the world.

4. The best is like water. Water is good for all things and does not compete with it. It is disliked by everyone, so it is close to the Tao.

5. Run the country with integrity, use military force with surprise, and conquer the world with nothing. How do I know this? From this: There are many taboos in the world, but the people are poor; there are many people with sharp weapons, and the country becomes weak; there are many people with clever tricks, and strange things appear; there are many laws and regulations, and there are many thieves. Therefore, the sage said: "I do nothing, and the people become themselves; I like tranquility, and the people are upright; I do nothing, and the people become rich; I have no desires, and the people are simple."

6. Live in a good place, have a good heart, be kind and benevolent, speak good words and have good faith, govern well, do good things and be able to do good things at the right time. The husband does not fight, so there is no need for you.

7. Saints are often careless and take the hearts of the people as their heart.

8. My words are easy to understand and easy to do. No one in the world can know it, and no one can do it.

9. Man follows the earth, earth follows the heaven, heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature.

10. There is no greater disaster than dissatisfaction; no greater fault than desire. Therefore, knowing what is enough is always enough.

11. If a great achievement is lacking, its use will not be harmful. If there is a big surplus, it will be of endless use. Great straightness is like bending, great skill is like clumsiness, great debate is like indifference.

12. Things are mixed together, born innately and on earth. Silent and desolate, independent without changing, moving around without peril, she can be the mother of heaven and earth. I don't know its name. The word "Qiang" is called Dao, and the name of "Qiang" is Da. The big day is called passing, the passing day is said to be far away, and the far away day is called reverse.

13. Its government is boring, but its people are honest; its government is chaotic, but its people are lacking. Therefore, the sage is square but not cutting, honest but not prudent, straight but not unruly, bright but not dazzling.

14. Wisdom does not come from one’s own wisdom, and others should not compete with others for their wisdom.

15. I will be good to those who are good; I will also be good to those who are not good; virtue is good. Those who believe, I believe in; those who do not believe, I also believe in; virtue believes.