Lao Tzu

“Because of a great love, one is courageous.”

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

“Ist eine Lehre zur Satzung erstarrt, hat sie geendet.”

“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.”

“To lead people walk behind them.”

“No one can insult me, because I do not want respect.No one can defeat me, because I have given up the idea of winning.How can you defeat me? You can only defeat someone who wants to win.”

“Existence is beyond the power of wordsTo define:Terms may be usedBut are none of them absolute.In the beginning of heaven and earth there were no words,Words came out of the womb of matter;And whether a man dispassionatelySees to the core of lifeOr passionatelySees the surface,The core and the surfaceAre essentially the same,Words making them seem differentOnly to express appearance.If name be needed, wonder names them both:From wonder into wonderExistence opens.”

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

“He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.”

“To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect.”

“When there is silence one finds the anchor of the universe within oneself”

“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.”

“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.”

“If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Failure is an opportunity.If you blame someone else,there is no end to the blame.Therefore the Masterfulfills her own obligationsand corrects her own mistakes.She does what she needs to doand demands nothing of others.”

“When people see some things as beautiful,other things become ugly.When people see some things as good,other things become bad.”

“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”

“free from desire, you realize the mysterycaught in the desire, you see only the manifestations.”