Tao Quotes on
Humility and Compassion

Authentic Quotes from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Here are quotes from the Tao Te Ching, the Taoist classic by Lao Tzu, about humility and compassion. To see the whole quoted chapter, click the chapter link within brackets.

The Book 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.

Lowering Oneself — Humility

The sage puts himself last and becomes the first.

Supreme good is like water. Water greatly benefits all things, without conflict. It flows through places that people loathe. Thereby it is close to the Way.

Open, like a valley.

Other people are joyous, like on the feast of the ox, like on the way up to the terrace in the spring. I alone am inert, giving no sign, like a newborn baby who has not learned to smile.

I am wearied, as if I lacked a home to go to.

Other people have more than they need, I alone seem wanting.

Only I am clumsy, like drifting on the waves of the sea, without direction.

Other people are occupied, I alone am unwilling, like the outcast.

Knowing the bright, but clinging to the dark, you become a model to the world.

Knowing honor, but clinging to disgrace, you become the valley of the world.

The high must make the low its base.

The highest virtue seems as low as a valley.

If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow them from behind.

Benevolence and Compassion

The highest benevolence acts without purpose.

The sage has no concern for himself, but makes the concerns of others his own.

People turn their eyes and ears to him (the sage), and the sage cares for them like his own children.

See others as yourself. See families as your family. See towns as your town. See countries as your country. See worlds as your world.

Return animosity with virtue.

I have three treasures that I cherish. The first is compassion. The second is moderation. The third is not claiming to be first in the world.

By compassion one can be brave.

The sage honors his part of the settlement, but does not exact his due from others.

Heaven’s Way is to benefit and not to harm.

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

    
    

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