Laozi

"If you love yourself and understand others, you are invincible."

"The highest good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to."

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."

"The real is the permanent; the temporary is not real."

"Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small."

"The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water molds itself to the pitcher."

"Those who know do not speak; those who speak do not know."

"In the arena of human life, the honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action."

"The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name."

"To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders."

"Health is the greatest possession."

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."

"When you make a mistake, don't look back at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind and then look forward."

"Forgetting about the external world means that the internal world can flourish."

"The Master has no mind of his own. His mind is the mind of his people."

"Accept the world as it is and you will see it as it truly is."

"Everything flows, nothing abides."

"The reason why the world lacks unity and lies in chaos is because people have adopted different standards of value."

"Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires."

"To become like an infant, with innocence and openness, is to return to Tao."

"The great Master functions freely; his actions leave no trace of attachment."

"If you understand others but not yourself, you will win some battles but lose the war."

"The Master is aware of the world, but does not shape his life by the world; aware of himself, but does not assert himself."

"Rushing into action, you fail. Waiting for the right time, you succeed."

"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you."

"Do nothing and nothing remains undone."

"The secret to a long, healthy life is to simply let things be."

"True strength is concealed, not displayed."

"The softest word finds an ear willing to listen."

"By emptying his own cup, the Master makes room for new wisdom."