Laozi
Chinese · 6th century BC
Ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, traditionally regarded as the founder of Taoism and author of the Tao Te Ching.
Wikipedia ↗“道可道，非常道。名可名，非常名。”
Chinese
“The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name.”
“知不知，尚矣；不知知，病也。”
Chinese
“To know that you do not know is the best. To not know yet think you know is a disease.”
“道常无为而无不为。”
Chinese
“The Tao does nothing, yet nothing is left undone.”
“知人者智，自知者明。”
Chinese
“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”
“柔弱胜刚强。”
Chinese
“The soft overcomes the hard; the gentle overcomes the rigid.”
“天下皆知美之为美，斯恶已；皆知善之为善，斯不善已。”
Chinese
“When the world knows beauty as beauty, ugliness arises. When it knows good as good, evil arises.”
“信言不美，美言不信。”
Chinese
“The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.”
“上善若水。水善利万物而不争。”
Chinese
“The highest goodness is like water. Water benefits all things and does not compete.”
“千里之行，始于足下。”
Chinese
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
“治大国，若烹小鲜。”
Chinese
“Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish — too much handling will spoil it.”