30 insightful Lao Tzu quotes on love, enlightenment and leadership
Some notable people have lived in this world, and their impact and wise sayings cannot make them forgotten. One of them is Lao. There are lots of insights that you can gain from Lao Tzu quotes. Interestingly, his words address specific areas of life, especially issues that have to do with leadership and love. They also answer perturbing questions and can be used to teach younger generations wisdom.
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Also known as Laozi, Lao-Tzu is a Chinese philosopher. What is Lao Tzu famous for? He is reputed for his work, Tao Te Ching. Although there is no record of him operating a school, his philosophy and teachings drew many students to him who ended up submitting as his follower. The bedrock of the sage's teachings focused on harmonious living. Also, many people believe that he is the contemporary of Confucius, one of the greatest and the most revered Chinese philosopher and teacher.
Lao Tzu quotes on love
Love is a universal theme that binds the world together, regardless of color, race, language, and culture. It is a force that cannot be ignored even though it can be misinterpreted if not rightly defined. Check out these love quotes from Lao Tzu to understand what his stance on this subject-matter is.
1. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
2. Embracing Tao, you become embraced.
Supple, breathing gently, you become reborn.
Clearing your vision, you become clear.
Nurturing your beloved, you become impartial.
Opening your heart, you become accepted.
Accepting the World, you embrace Tao.
Bearing and nurturing,
Creating but not owning,
Giving without demanding,
Controlling without authority,
This is love.
3. Because of great love, one is courageous.
4. Surrender your self-interest. Love others as much as you love yourself. Then you can be entrusted with all things under heaven.
5. Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart, and the senses.
6. Kindness in words creates confidence, kindness in thinking creates profoundness and kindness in giving creates love.
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7. Responsibility without love makes us inconsiderate;
Power without love makes us cruel;
Belief without love makes us fanatics;
Intelligence without love makes us dishonest.
8. I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.
9. The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.”
10. Love is a decision. Not an emotion.
Lao Tzu leadership quotes
Leadership is like a two-edged sword; there is a part that affects the leader, and another that has to do with the follower. The two sides have to align to achieve success. Lao Tzu quotes leadership to be a joint effort of a leader and the followers. Interestingly also, the sayings give insight on how to achieve efficient leadership.
11. When the best leader’s work is done the people say, ‘We did it ourselves.
12. The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say. We did it ourselves.
13. Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it.
14. To lead people, walk behind them.
15. Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”
16. When a nation is filled with strife, then do patriots flourish.”
17. He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.
18. To know yet to think one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.
19. The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.
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20. The people are hungry: it is because those who are in authority eat up too much in taxes.
Lao Tzu quotes on enlightenment
Enlightenment is a vital element needed by all. It assists in the transformation of the inner mind and also brings clarity and precision. Quotes Lao Tzu are informative. As you read through, you will better understand his perception of what it means to experience transformation.
21. Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
22. To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
23. Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.
24. The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.
25. Paradoxically, all religions seem to be aware of this having been formed around the teachings of a prophet who became enlightened and comprehended the nature of existence and called it God, yet were unable to pass on these teachings without using the questionable and wholly misinterpreted Word.
26. I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.
27. Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.
28. When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
29. In dwelling, live close to the ground. And in thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. And at work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
30. Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.
It is evident from these Lao Tzu quotes that the sage was full of insights and wisdom. Considering his words, there are lots of weighty meanings that only intelligent and analytical minds can unravel. An exciting part of it all is that even though he is dead, some of the central themes that the quotes by Lao Tzu address are still useful in today's settings. More so, they can be used to teach wisdom to younger generations.
Source: Legit.ng
