The Tao te Ching by Lao Tzu is one of the most quoted books in the world, full of timeless wisdom that applies to things that occur on the daily. Here are 20 pearls of wisdom for all those times we need just a little inspiration and insight.

1. The beginning of your Adventure is already under your feet. (This is often translated as “The Journey of 1000 Miles starts with a single step,” but that’s a bit misleading. It implies that one has to take an action to begin the journey to Awakening. But throughout the Tao te Ching the message is this: it doesn’t take any effort at all. In fact, your journey has already begun!”)
2. The Tao most people can follow is rarely the entire Tao. The name most people give it is rarely its actual name.
3. Everybody knows what they think is beautiful; that’s how they know what they think is ugly.
4. The highest Virtue is to be like water.
5. A wise person fills his belly, not his eyes.
6. Who can be still and allow muddy water to settle?
7. The superior student hears of the Tao and practices it diligently. The average student hears of the Tao and seems half aware, half uncertain. The inferior student hears of the Tao and laughs out loud. If he did not laugh, it would not be worthy of the name Tao.
8. The softest thing in the Universe overcomes the hardest thing in the Universe.
9. There is no greater disaster than not recognizing contentment. 
10. Without leaving the house, one can know the world. Without peeping through the window, one can see the way of heaven.
11. In the pursuit of knowledge, every day gather more. In the pursuit of the Tao, every day discard.
12. Be good to those who are good to you. As for those who are not good to you – be good to them as well.
13. The rhino has no place to thrust its horn, The tiger has no place to use its claws, Weapons have no place to admit their blades.
14. Those in the know don’t talk much; those who talk too much aren’t in the know. (This is often translated as “Those who know don’t speak, those who speak don’t know.” This sounds very clever in English, but it’s not entirely true. Of course people who “know” do talk – they are teachers, guides, gurus and mentors. But they know there are simply no words for some things. On the other hand, there are those who make up all kinds of fancy words and “secrets.” They’re just faking it.)
15. Knowing that you don’t know what you don’t know is sick (the good kind). Not knowing that you don’t know what you don’t know is sick (the bad kind).
16. Stiff and strong are the companions of Death; pliable and fragile are the companions of Life.
17. True words are not always fancy. Fancy words are not always true.
18. Keep life simple. Enjoy your food, dress beautifully, live peacefully, and appreciate your culture.
19. The soft overcomes the hard, the yielding overcomes the strong; every person knows this, but few can practice it.
20. Govern the country the way you cook a small fish: don’t fuss with it!