Tao Te Ching
THE TAOISM OF LAO TZU

     
     


Tao Quotes

Tao Te Ching

The Sayings of Lao Tzu in the Tao Te Ching



Here are 388 quotes extracted from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, the oldest and most important source to Taoism. The Tao quotes are sorted into 19 major topics. Each quote has a link to its chapter in the book.


The Book

Tao Quotes — the Ancient Wisdom of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. Book by Stefan Stenudd. Tao Quotes

The Ancient Wisdom of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. 389 quotes from the foremost Taoist classic, divided into 51 prominent topics. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).

       More about the book here.


Lots of Tao Quotes Around

The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu is quoted on the Internet and elsewhere, almost like no other source but the Bible and the plays of Shakespeare. Unfortunately, the Tao quotes are often far from proper renditions of the original text. Also, they usually lack any reference to what chapter of the Tao Te Ching they are derived from.

       That makes it very difficult for the reader to check their authentity, as well as the context to which the quotes belong. With this website, I hope to give readers a chance of sorting these things out.

       Therefore, I have extracted 388 Tao quotes from the Tao Te Ching — just about any line of the text that has a chance of standing on its own. Each of the Tao quotes has a reference to the chapter to which it belongs.


Tao Te Ching

The oldest and major source to Taoism is Tao Te Ching (also spelled Dao De Jing), which translates to The Book on the Way and Virtue. It was written by the legendary Lao Tzu (Lao Zi) somewhere between the 6th and the 4th century BC in China. The old classic still has a lot to teach us.

       Tao Te Ching consists of 81 chapters about the Way: its mystery, its cosmology, and what it teaches us about how to conduct our lives the wisest.


Tao Quote Categories

Here are the 388 Tao quotes extracted from the Tao Te ching by Lao Tzu, sorted into 19 topics. Each Tao quote has a link to its chapter in the book.

  1. Tao, the Way quotes


  2. Nature and the world quotes


  3. Knowledge and wisdom quotes


  4. Opposites and paradoxes quotes


  5. Non-action and action quotes


  6. Prevention and patience quotes


  7. Moderation and modesty quotes


  8. Humility and compassion quotes


  9. Desire, wealth and greed quotes


  10. Good and bad quotes


  11. Role Models quotes


  12. Simplicity, stillness and silence quotes


  13. Fear and imperfection quotes


  14. The female, child and family quotes


  15. Yielding quotes


  16. Rulers and government quotes


  17. Longevity and death quotes


  18. Seeing clearly quotes


  19. War and violence quotes



Tao Themes

Another section of this website divides the 81 chapters of the Tao Te Ching into seven different themes, which are prominent in the book and in Taoist philosophy. The whole chapters, not just quotes from them, are included on the theme pages. Click the header to read the introduction, or go directly to one of the seven themes. Here they are:

  1. Tao — The Way


  2. Te — Virtue


  3. Sheng Jen — The Sage


  4. Wu Wei — Non-action


  5. Moderation


  6. Ruling


  7. War




My Taoism Books

Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).


Tao Te Ching — The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained. Book by Stefan Stenudd. Tao Te Ching

The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained. The great Taoist philosophy classic by Lao Tzu translated, and each of the 81 chapters extensively commented.

       More about the book here.

Tao Quotes — the Ancient Wisdom of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. Book by Stefan Stenudd. Tao Quotes

The Ancient Wisdom of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. 389 quotes from the foremost Taoist classic, divided into 51 prominent topics. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).

       More about the book here.

Fake Lao Tzu Quotes — Erroneous Tao Te Ching Citations Examined. Book by Stefan Stenudd. Fake Lao Tzu Quotes

Erroneous Tao Te Ching Citations Examined. 90 of the most spread false Lao Tzu quotes, why they are false and where they are really from. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).

       More about the book here.



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Other Books by Stefan Stenudd

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Cosmos of the Ancients. Book by Stefan Stenudd. Cosmos of the Ancients

The Greek philosophers and what they thought about cosmology, myth, and the gods.


QI — increase your life energy. Book by Stefan Stenudd. Qi — Increase Your Life Energy

The life energy qi (also chi or ki) explained, with exercises on how to awaken, increase and use it.


Aikido Principles. Book by Stefan Stenudd. Aikido Principles

Basic concepts of the peaceful martial art. Aikido principles, philosophy, and fundamental ideas.


Life Energy Encyclopedia. Book by Stefan Stenudd. Life Energy Encyclopedia

Qi, prana, spirit, ruach, pneuma, and many other life forces around the world explained and compared.


Archetypes of Mythology. Book by Stefan Stenudd. Archetypes of Mythology

Jungian theories on myth and religion examined, from Carl G. Jung to Jordan B. Peterson.


Stefan Stenudd, Swedish author of fiction and non-fiction. Stefan Stenudd


About me

I'm a Swedish author and aikido instructor. In addition to fiction, I've written books about Taoism and other East Asian traditions. I'm also an historian of ideas, researching ancient thought and mythology. Click the image to get to my personal website.

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