Lao Tzu is the author of one of my favorite books of all time, Tao Te Ching. I read this beautiful book more than 100 times. And every time I read it I discover something new.
There is so much power, so much wisdom and so much magic in this incredible little book. And it is my hope that the words I will share with you today will reveal some of that magic to you as well.
33 Life-Changing Lessons to Learn from Lao Tzu
1. The world is won by those who let it go.
“By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning.” ~ Lao Tzu
“Therefore the Master acts without doing anything and teaches without saying anything. Things arise and she lets them come; things disappear and she lets them go. She has but doesn’t possess acts but doesn’t expect. When her work is done, she forgets it. That is why it lasts forever.” ~ Lao Tzu
“He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures.” ~ Lao Tzu
2. When you let go of who you are, you become who you might be.
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” ~ Lao Tzu
3. If you want to be given everything, give everything up.
“If you want to become whole, let yourself be partial. If you want to become straight, let yourself be crooked. If you want to become full, let yourself be empty. If you want to be reborn, let yourself die. If you want to be given everything, give everything up.” ~ Lao Tzu
4. Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.” ~ Lao Tzu
5. If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to.
“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
6. He who rushes ahead doesn’t go far.
“He who rushes ahead doesn’t go far.” ~ Lao Tzu
7. Trying to shine you dim your own light.
“He who tries to shine dims his own light.” ~ Lao Tzu
8. He who defines himself can’t know who he really is.
“He who defines himself can’t know who he really is.” ~ Lao Tzu
9. He who has power over others can’t empower himself.
“He who has power over others can’t empower himself.” ~ Lao Tzu
10. Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.
“Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.”
11. At the center of your being, you have the answer to all life’s questions.
“At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” ~ Lao Tzu
12. The soft overcomes the hard. The slow overcomes the fast.
“The soft overcomes the hard. The slow overcomes the fast.” ~ Lao Tzu
“In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.”
13. Allow things to flow naturally.
“Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?” ~ Lao Tzu
14. If you want to get rid of something, you must first allow it to flourish.
“If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand. If you want to get rid of something, you must first allow it to flourish. If you want to take something, you must first allow it to be given. This is called the subtle perception of the way things are.” ~
15. New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.
“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” ~ Lao Tzu
16. Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner.
“Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner.”
17. Humility is power.
“All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power.”
18. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm.
“The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.”
19. The great leader is he who the people say, ‘We did it ourselves.’”
“The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, ‘We did it ourselves.
20. If you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them.
“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.”
21. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
“If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.”
“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.”
22. The further one goes the less one knows.
“Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window one can see the way of heaven. The further one goes the less one knows.”
23. Silence is a source of great strength.
“Silence is a source of great strength.”
24. Be like the forces of nature.
“Express yourself completely, then keep quiet. Be like the forces of nature: when it blows, there is only wind; when it rains, there is only rain; when the clouds pass, the sun shines through.”
25. Non-being is the greatest joy.
“Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.”
26. By doing nothing you leave nothing undone.
“When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.” ~
27. This is the great secret.
“What is a good man but a bad man’s teacher? What is a bad man but a good man’s job? If you don’t understand this, you will get lost, however intelligent you are. It is the great secret.”
28. The wise man is one who knows what he does not know.
“The wise man is one who knows what he does not know.”
29. Loving someone deeply gives you courage.
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
30. Kindness in giving creates love.
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”
31. If you don’t change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”
32. When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”
33. Be good to all.
“Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.”
BONUS: More Lao Tzu Quotes
“Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing She is one with the whole universe.” ~ 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
“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
“When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears. Expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder.” ~ 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
“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
“Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.” ~ Lao Tzu
“The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, ‘We did it ourselves.'” ~ Lao Tzu
“One who is too insistent on his own views, finds few to agree with him.” ~ 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.”
“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.”
“The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, The more he gives to others, the more he gets himself. The Way of Heaven does one good but never does one harm. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete.” ~ 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, Tao Te Ching
“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
~love, Luminita 💫
** What about you? Do you have a favorite quote from Lao Tzu? If you do you can share your comment in the comment section below
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Luminita D. Saviuc
Luminita is the Founder and Editor in Chief of PurposeFairy.com and also the author of 15 Things You Should Give Up to Be Happy: An Inspiring Guide to Discovering Effortless Joy. For more details check out the 15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy Book Page.
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