454 Quotes by Lao Tzu

The people are hungry: It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes.

Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of unhappiness.

Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.

Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish - don't overdo it

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

Pride attaches undue importance to the superiority of one's status in the eyes of others; And shame is fear of humiliation at one's inferior status in the estimation of others. When one sets his heart on being highly esteemed, and achieves such rating, then he is automatically involved in fear of losing his status.

The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.

One who is too insistent on his own views, finds few to agree with him.

Of the best rulers, The people only know that they exist; the next best they love and praise the next they fear; and the next they revile. When they do not command the people's faith, some will lose faith in them, and then they resort to oaths! But of the best when their task is accomplished, their work done, the people all remark, ''We have done it ourselves.''