Lao Tzu lived around the 6th Century BC and was the first philosopher of Chinese Taoism and is the alleged author of Tao Te Ching (No one is completely certain, becuase it was quite a while ago). Or to put it another way the author of the Tao Te Ching is Lao Tzu, which gets around the problem somewhat. Little is known for certain about Lao Tzu, he was believed to be around at the same time as Confucius, they may have even argued and yelled at each other a little. The Tao Te Ching is by far the most translated work of all the literature of China.
Excerpts:
Governing a large country
is like frying a small fish.
You spoil it with too much poking.
from ch 60 of Tao Te Ching
Throw away holiness and wisdom,
and people will be a hundred times happier.
Throw away morality and justice,
and people will do the right thing.
Throw away industry and profit,
and there won't be any thieves
If these three aren't enough,
just stay at the centre of the circle
and let things take their course.
from ch 19 of Tao Te Ching
There was something formless and perfect
before the universe was born.
It is serene. Empty
Solitary. Unchanging.
Infinite. Eternally present.
It is the mother of the universe.
For lack of a better name.
I call it the Tao.
from ch 25 of Tao Te Ching
Not-knowing is true knowledge.
Presuming to know is a disease.
from ch 71 of Tao Te Ching
Failure is an opportunity.
If you blame someone else,
there is no end to the blame
from ch 79 of Tao Te Ching
