The Tao Te Ching
by Lao Tzu
"The Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu is a foundational text of Taoist philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao, or the fundamental nature of the universe. It presents teachings on simplicity, humility, and the importance of balance, advocating for a life of non-action (wu wei) and acceptance of the natural flow of life. Through poetic verses, it encourages individuals to align themselves with the world around them to achieve true wisdom and peace.
17 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from The Tao Te Ching, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.
The soft overcomes the hard.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
The more that you know, the less you understand.
To know yet to think that one does not know is best; to not know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.
The highest good is like water. Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive.
In the pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added. In the practice of the Tao, every day something is dropped.
When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you.
To know the world is to be knowledgeable; to know yourself is to be enlightened.
The greatest revelation is stillness.
He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know.
The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.
When you let go of what you are, you become what you might be.
The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for himself.