We join spokes together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move.We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness insidethat holds whatever we want.We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner spacethat makes it livable.We work with being, but non-being is what we use.
Lao Tzu
— Lao Tzu
Semi-legendary Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism
inspirational love philosophy poetry

About This Quote

About Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu was Chinese semi-legendary chinese philosopher, founder of taoism. Laozi was a legendary Chinese philosopher considered to be the author of the Dào Dé Jīng (Laozi), one of the foundational texts of Taoism. The name, literally meaning 'Old Master', was likely intended to portray an archaic anonymity that could converse with Confucianism. Read more on Wikipedia →

Themes

  • Inspirational — Uplifting words to motivate and inspire positive action
  • Love — Quotes exploring romantic love, compassion, and human connection
  • Philosophy — Deep thoughts on existence, knowledge, and the nature of reality
  • Poetry — The art of language, rhythm, and emotional expression

More quotes by Lao Tzu

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
— Lao Tzu
courage deeply-loved love strength

“...the mind is just as immeasurable as the vast universe. An integral being settles his mind just as the vast universe settles itself. He unites his mind with the unnameable Subtle Origin of the mu...”
— Lao Tzu
duality focus silence spirituality

“LoveEmbracing 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...”
— Lao Tzu
love

“Because of a great love, one is courageous.”
— Lao Tzu
love

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”
— Lao Tzu
life travel

“Mastering others is strength. Mastering oneself makes you fearless.”
— Lao Tzu
fear strength
View all quotes by Lao Tzu →

Related Quotes

“We accept the love we think we deserve.”
— Stephen Chbosky
inspirational love

“All Earthquakes and Disasters are warnings theres too much corruption in the world ”
— Aristotle
inspirational spirituality

“Its only when youre at the bottom of the ladder that you ascend.”
— Gina Barreca
inspirational inspirational-quotes

“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that youve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you sa...”
— Bob Marley
love

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”
— John Green
love

“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there i...”
— Pablo Neruda, 100 Love Sonnets
love poetry

“I have little use for religion as it is practiced, or for astrology, or for belief in witchcraft or omens of good or ill-luck. I think they all stem from some insufficiency in mens minds, perhaps f...”
— Winston Graham, The Black Moon
philosophy religion ross-poldark spirituality

“It is only the innocent mind which knows what love is, and the innocent mind can live in the world which is not innocent.”
— Jiddu Krishnamurti
philosophy spirituality

“So if you can look at all things without allowing pleasure to creep in - at a face, a bird, the colour of a sari, the beauty of a sheet of water shimmering in the sun, or anything that gives deligh...”
— Jiddu Krishnamurti
philosophy spirituality