Quotes from Lao Tzu – the Philosopher and Grand Master of Feng Shui:
Lao Tzu or Laozi, who existed in the 6th century B.C, was the founder of the Chinese philosophical ‘School of the Tao’ or ‘Taoism.”
Taoism believes in “the One, which is natural, spontaneous, eternal, nameless, and indescribable. It is at once the beginning of all things and the way in which all things pursue their course.” The ‘path’ or the ‘way’, it talks about is often referred to “flow of the universe” (Feng Shui).
Legend says that he was born after spending eight or eighty years in his mother’s womb, for which he was called the ‘the old or wise child.”
Here are a few famous Lao Tzu quotes:
- Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
- The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
- 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.
- Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.
- If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
- Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
- Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.
- Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
- I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.
- When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
- Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
- Silence is a source of great strength.
- Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.
- Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.
- Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.
- 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.’
- Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.
- Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish – too much handling will spoil it.
- I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any.
- If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.
- Be the chief but never the lord.
- Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.
- The career of a sage is of two kinds: He is either honored by all in the world, Like a flower waving its head, Or else he disappears into the silent forest.
- The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end of your days.
- He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.