Lao Tzu, also known by the names of Laozi and Lao-Tze, was a very wise philosopher of ancient China, supposedly born in 604 BC, although his existence remains a legend.
Lao Tzu’s regarded as the founder of Taoism and author of Tao Te Ching. His inspirational and spiritual quotes have lived on to become legendary in the eyes of almost everyone who hears them.
The below is a collection of 40 amazing Lao Tzu quotes guaranteed to give you spiritual enlightenment.
40 Spiritual Lao Tzu Quotes
1. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu
2. “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.” – Lao Tzu
3. “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.” – Lao Tzu
4. “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” – Lao Tzu
5. “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” – Lao Tzu
6. “To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.” – Lao Tzu
7. “Kindness in words creates confidence, kindness in thinking creates profoundness and kindness in giving creates love.” – Lao Tzu
8. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
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“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu
10. “I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” – Lao Tzu
11. “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.” – Lao Tzu
12. “When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” – Lao Tzu
13. “Silence is a source of great strength.” – Lao Tzu
14. “In dwelling, live close to the ground. And in thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. And in work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.” – Lao Tzu
15. “Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.” – Lao Tzu
16. “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” – Lao Tzu
17. “Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.” – Lao Tzu
18. “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
19. “The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.” – Lao Tzu
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“Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.” – Lao Tzu
21. “Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.” – Lao Tzu
22. “Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.” – Lao Tzu
23. “He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.” – Lao Tzu
24. “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
25. “To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect.” – Lao Tzu
26. “Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.” – Lao Tzu
27. “At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” – Lao Tzu
28. “One can not reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others.” – Lao Tzu
29. “If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.” – Lao Tzu
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30. “Act without striving. Work without interfering. Find the flavour in what is flavourless.” – Lao Tzu
31. “Be the chief but never the lord.” – Lao Tzu
32. “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
33. “Do not look only at yourself, and you will see much. Do not justify yourself, and you will be distinguished. Do not brag, and you will have merit. Do not be prideful, and your work will endure.” – Lao Tzu
34. “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.” – Lao Tzu
35. “Man’s enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.” – Lao Tzu
36. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu
37. “Surrender your self-interest. Love others as much as you love yourself. Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven.” – Lao Tzu
38. “Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.” – Lao Tzu
39. “To lead people walk behind them.” – Lao Tzu
40. “Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.” – Lao Tzu
Summary
Thanks for checking out these spiritual and inspirational Lao Tzu quotes! Please don’t forget to share them with your friends and family, especially since the new year’s only a few days away!
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