Laozi

"Nature produces all things, but attaches to nothing."

"The usefulness of the usefulness of the pot is the emptiness within it."

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

"The Master observes the world but trusts his inner light."

"In the pursuit of knowledge every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao every day something is dropped."

"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom."

"The Master welcomes all things, just as the earth welcomes all rivers and streams."

"When the student is ready to learn, the teacher will appear."

"Everybody knows beauty, so there is ugliness. Everybody knows good, so there is evil."

"To understand the limitation of things is to understand the unlimited."

"The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness."

"When you are at peace with yourself, you are at peace with the world."

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes."

"The Tao produces all things without having a purpose to do so."

"If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Moving like water, let the course of the world guide your way."

"The more knowledge you acquire, the more distant you become from wisdom."

"To see what is truly real, you must let go of what appears to be real."

"The world is a mystery to those who think in words. The world is transparent to those who think in deeds."

"Reward and punishment are tools to shape behaviour; but the Master works with reality itself."

"The less you strive, the more you achieve."

"Give up sainthood and renounce wisdom. Mankind will be benefited a hundredfold."

"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty."

"There is no greater sin than desire, no greater curse than discontent, no greater fault than wanting something for oneself."

"The softest thing in the world is also the most dangerous."

"Perfection is hidden in the flawed."

"Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom."

"The root of Heaven is beneath the Earth and the root of Earth is beneath Heaven."

"The Master seeks nothing, expects nothing, thus he is never disappointed. He is never angered by events, because he accepts what is."

"To return to the root is to find peace."

"The Master flows with life; he does not resist change."