Lao Tzu Quotes
Everything we have from Lao Tzu is the short Tao Te Ching, 81 chapters long. Translations vary a lot, so each quote below gives its chapter: any translation will have it there.
4 real Lao Tzu quotes, with sources
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”Lao Tzu — Tao Te Ching, ch. 64
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.”Lao Tzu — Tao Te Ching, ch. 33 (version by Stephen Mitchell)
“He who knows does not speak; he who speaks does not know.”Lao Tzu — Tao Te Ching, ch. 56
“He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.”Lao Tzu — Tao Te Ching, ch. 46
Famous quotes Lao Tzu never said
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”Not in the Tao Te Ching in any standard translation. The attribution is modern.
Who was Lao Tzu?
The semi-legendary sage credited with the Tao Te Ching, a short book of poetic wisdom about simplicity, humility and living with the natural way of things. It is one of the most translated texts in the world. Read more on Wikipedia.
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What is Lao Tzu's most famous quote?
One of the best known is “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” (Tao Te Ching, ch. 64)
Did Lao Tzu really say “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”?
No. Not in the Tao Te Ching in any standard translation. The attribution is modern.
Where do these Lao Tzu quotes come from?
Everything we have from Lao Tzu is the short Tao Te Ching, 81 chapters long. Translations vary a lot, so each quote below gives its chapter: any translation will have it there.
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