Lao Tzu

“The pursuit of learning is to increase day by day. The pursuit of the Tao is to decrease day by day.”

“The world is won by those who let it go. When you try and try, the world is then beyond winning.”

“The sage has no fixed mind of his own. He takes the mind of the people as his mind.”

“When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

“Recompense injury with kindness.”

“The greatest things are accomplished by attention to small details.”

“The sage tackles the difficult while it is easy. He attempts the great while it is small.”

“He who lightly promises is sure to keep but little faith.”

“The tree that fills a man's embrace grew from a tiny shoot.”

“A nine-storied tower rises from a heap of earth.”

“He who acts spoils things; he who grasps loses them.”

“I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility.”

“Therefore the sage does not act, so he doesn't spoil things; he does not grasp, so he doesn't lose them.”

“Do you have the patience to wait till the mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?”

“He who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm; he who rushes ahead doesn't go far.”

“The reason why rivers and seas can be rulers of a hundred valleys is that they are good at lying low.”

“Therefore, in order to be above the people, one must, in speech, place oneself below them.”

“He who excels as a warrior does not appear formidable.”

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”