a thousand mile journey begins with a single step

The meaning and origin of the expression: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

What's the meaning of the phrase 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step'.

The proverb 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' puts forward the notion that, however difficult a task is, you can only complete it if you first start it.

What's the origin of the phrase 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step'?

'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' is different in that it actually was coined in China. Any saying that is associated with ancient China is generally labelled as being the work of Confucius. This one isn't.

Westerners like myself, who don't speak Chinese and have no real knowledge or understanding of Chinese history and culture, need to tread carefully when making pronouncements about who did what in China over two thousand years ago. What is generally accepted by scholars with a better grasp of Chinese and China is this...

The proverb 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' is first found in the Tao Te Ching , which is a classical Chinese Taoist text usually credited to Laozi (a.k.a. Lao Tzu), and probably written between the 4th and 6th century BC. The original text is:

"A journey of a thousand li [a Chinese mile] starts beneath one's feet"

The Tao Te Ching, is not a neatly bound and dated book with a definitive ISBN number that you might buy on Amazon. There are numerous fragmentary copies differing in content, language and authorship and dating over several centuries. The authorship is uncertain and disputed and some scholars dispute even the existence of Lao Tzu, claiming him to be mythical sage rather than a real living person.

We might usefully consider the Tao Te Ching as having a similar standing in Chinese culture as Aesop's Fables has in the West. It is now widely believed that Aesop's Fables weren't written by one author and, even if they were, it wasn't Aesop who may well not have existed in the flesh.

The 'self-help' nature of the phrase has led to some parody, including this from the Anglo/Australian writer Kathy Lette:

A journey of self-discovery starts with a single step… But so does falling down a flight of stairs.

See also: the List of Proverbs .

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step

Meaning of “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.

This Chinese proverb means that a person must begin his or her journey to reach their goal or destination. It is a motivational proverb that expresses deep insight about determination and avoiding procrastination. It means a first step needs if we intend to finish a task or a thought on time . In other words, this expression tells that the great things commence with simple beginnings.

This proverb also stretches across two paradoxical phrases , ‘thousand miles’ and ‘single step’ while the emphasis is on a ‘single step.’ If an initiative is taken, the rest of the venture falls into place, and the mission starts. It also means that a voyage marked as a milestone starts with a single step. This proverb applies to a wide range of different circumstances where action needs to be taken for the completion of a task. Hence, in this saying ‘journey’ means a task/action and that it does not stay limited to traveling only. However, a step is an initiative or a starting point. A ‘thousand miles’ shows the longevity of a journey, while a ‘single step’ is an initial move. In other words, no matter how ambiguous the task is, how long the journey is or laborious the work is, a movement is always required to begin it.

Origin of “A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step”

“A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step” is a saying by an ancient Chinese philosopher. The original text is “A journey of a thousand li starts beneath one’s feet.”  Here li means distance. This quote was first used in Chinese classic text; Tao Te Ching attributed to Lao Tzu, a renowned Chinese philosopher. It was probably written between the 4 th or 6 th century.

Tzu’s powerful words have always been shadowed by renowned people. American President, John F Kennedy reintroduced this quote “A Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” in 1963 about the first nuclear test ban agreement.

Examples in Literature

The journey of a thousand miles… by Ronnie James Corbin

“I’m pretty drunk right now , But my thoughts are clear enough to say, I believe in you. I believe in your dreams . I believe you can overcome your flaws. I believe you could write the masterpiece of our generation. You could cure cancer, bring world peace, and feed the hungry. You can show love. You can breathe your positive presence into the air. I want you to go forth and shine like the beautiful star that you are. Together we can demolish our egos. Start on the path to purity. They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, So hold my hand, and follow me, As I take mine.”

Ronnie James Corbin is an Ohio-based American poet wrote this poem for his sweetheart requesting her to join the poet to defeat every other thing, including cancer. The use of the first person and the second person to counter it balances the poem. The poem is a marriage proposal after the presentation of both figures. It gets clear in the third last line where the long journey is a long life, while the next line shows the invitation as “hold my hand”.

There Is No Easy Way (But There Is a Way) by Willie Nelson

Now that we’re back together the battle is half won We’ll try to save a part of yesterday I know it won’t be easy but at least we have begun There is no easy way but there is a way We both could use some understanding trust would help And the journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step And is love not worth the price we’ll have to pay There is no easy way but there is a way We both could use some understanding trust would help And the journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step And is love not worth the price we’ll have to pay There is no easy way but there is a way

Willie Nelson, a songwriter and poet, wrote this song to convey his colleague and beloved that they could start the relationship again as there is always a way even if nothing is easy. For this purpose, he has used this proverb as a repetition as well as a refrain in the last two lines of both stanzas .

Journey of a Thousand Miles My Story By Lang Lang and David Ritz

This is an autobiography of a Chinese pianist Lang Lang. He co-wrote the book with David Ritz to underline his hard struggle when moving from a western Chinese city to Beijing. It is not just the story of a pianist prodigy, but a family saga. The writer includes his whole family, who supported Lang Lang until his stardom. His father’s tireless struggle to make his song a star goes a long way. Therefore, the title of the biography shows the courage and sacrifice that a father has demonstrated to make his son a star.

Examples in Sentences as Literary Devices

Example #1: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and is finally covered after a time.” Here the proverb shows the journey that is covered only when a step is taken.

Example #2: “ He is an epitome of a journey of a thousand miles beings with a single step as he always takes a small step to do everything and completes it on time.” Here the proverb has been used as a metaphor as it shows the person as the model.

Example #3: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step is like a task that has many parts, and if a small part is done, it means the big task will be done too.” The proverb has been used as a simile as the use of “like” shows.

Example #4: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step forward or ends with a single step back.” This proverb also shows the use of a paradox a journey is of thousand miles, but it starts with a single step.

Example #5: “ A journey as long as a thousand mile begins with a single step” shows its use as a simile as it compares the longevity of a journey with a thousand miles. However, the proverb has been twisted a bit with the words “as long as”.

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A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step – Proverb Meaning and Expansion of idea

The proverb ‘a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step’ means that big achievements are made through small but concrete resolves. Dreams and life goals are achieved by making a path plan and taking the first step towards it. The first step is most important because you may have big plans, but they will not materialize if you don’t take that first step. Therefore, it is true that a journey that might last for a thousand steps actually begins with a single step.

Expansion of idea

The proverb ‘a journey of thousand miles begins with a small step’ means that a long journey starts by taking a very small step towards the destination. The proverb signifies the first step as it indicates that the journey, howsoever, long, has already begun.

On the contrary, if the first step is not taken then the journey will remain only a dream and will never be realized. However long the journey is, it only materializes with the first step you take, that indicates your resolve.

The ‘journey’ here doesn’t specifically mean a journey or distance covered between two points, but also something as meaningful as a journey of life. To put it in simple words – If you have a dream and you want it to come true then you must chart out a plan and take that very important first step!

Short Stories on ‘A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step’

Stories are the best way to understand the true morale of a proverb. Here I am giving below a couple of stories on the theme ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step’.

Short Story 1

Once there lived a famous King who was respected and loved by his subjects. The king had a large stable with many beautiful horses, but there was one exceptionally beautiful horse named ‘Wind’. He was tan, tall and the most handsome horse in the whole kingdom, but there was a problem. Wind was very stubborn and wouldn’t act on anyone’s command, not even the King’s. King had a long-cherished dream of touring hundreds of miles on the back of ‘Wind’ and exploring his kingdom with him. But, wind wouldn’t allow anyone on his back for long.

The King sought the help of a famous horse trainer from another kingdom. The trainer was so good in his job that people called him the magician of horses. The trainer came and looked at wind, the horse. He looked beautiful the most beautiful horse he had ever seen. But as soon as he tried to hop on its back, the horse started rearing aggressively, sending the trainer to the ground.

The trainer asked King’s permission to walk the horse just a couple of steps every day; although confused the King consented. Within a month the horse was trained and would gladly allow King to ride on his back. King was surprised by the development and asked the trainer, how he achieved it. The trainer replied – “Dear King, the journey that you want to go on with this beautiful horse of yours began with that every step the horse took a month back. That day I knew that if he has allowed me to ride even for a single step it will ultimately also allow you to ride for miles. After all, a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Short Story 2

Once there lived a boy who was not very good in studies but he had big dreams. He wanted to do something in life but was always fearful and hesitant. He would fear the consequences and outcomes and kill his dreams every day. He was exceptionally good in painting but would fear to talk about it. He wanted to pursue it as a career option but was afraid to ask his father for the same.

His mother knew about her son’s dream and asked him to talk to his father openly about it. She told him that unless he asks his father to send him to some professional drawing class, the answer would always be ‘no’. He has to ask first to make things work out for him.

However, the boy gathered courage and asked his father to send him to a special drawing class. The father first gazed in surprise then allowed the boy to join a class. The boy was elated that day. Years after that incident the boy successfully runs an exhibition of his own paintings.

When he looks back, he feels glad that he took that first step of asking his father that would embark him on a journey of his dreams. If he hadn’t taken that first step, things would have been pretty different today. Indeed it is true that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, the man thought to himself.

Examples are the best way to understand the true meaning of a proverb. I am giving below some fresh examples based on the proverb ‘a journey of thousand miles begins with a small step’ that will let you better understand the proverb.

“The famous 240 miles Dandi March by Gandhi Ji was first started at his Ashram at Sabarmati, by taking the first step towards the coastal village of Dandi. True that a journey of thousand miles begins with a small step.”

“When I started the business, I had only one small outlet but today I own a chain of restaurants in the city, proving that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step.”

“The officer told the commissioned soldiers – you have already taken the first step towards a lifelong glory and courage. Indeed a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.”

“The teacher told the students – even if you don’t want to study, just try to sit with a book and read it. Such small yet significant steps may decide your future. As you all know that a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.”

“I remember a motivational speaker told me once – ‘the first step that you take towards your dream or journey is the most important, as it indicates you resolve towards the goal or destination’, therefore it is true that a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.”

The proverb ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ originated in China during the 6th century. A phrase similar appears in a Chinese religious text ‘Tao Te Ching’ composed by saint Laozi. The original text reads – “A journey of a thousand li, starts beneath one’s feet.” ‘Li’ in Chinese means mile.

Therefore, the proverb means that a journey of thousand miles starts beneath one’s feet which refer to the first step.

Since then the proverb has been transformed into different languages by sages, saints, and others. Today, it popularly used by motivational speakers across the globe.

The importance of the proverb ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step’ teaches us that if we want to realize our dreams then we must not be hesitant towards making our initial moves. We should be fearless in taking the first step.

It also teaches us that howsoever, big the distance might seem or the dreams may be just too big to realize, but we should not be discouraged by these facts, rather should firmly begin the journey, confiding in our own abilities. Bottom line is that the journey could be a thousand miles long but it sure will be finished one day if you take the first step with determination and confidence.

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           Chapt er 64

Tao te ching ( dao de jing ) classic of the way and virtue by lao tzu (laozi).

Green Way Research , Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington

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Tao Te Ching ( Dao De Jing ) by Lao Tzu

Classic Book ( Ching ) about the Tao (Way, Nature, Patterns, Processes) and Te (Virtue, Potency, Power, Integrity, Wise Person, Sage)

Indexing, Concordance, Search Terms, Topics, Themes

English and Chinese (Wade-Giles) Terms:  Don't Cling, Govern ( chih ), Content or Peaceful or Rest or Sitting (an), The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step ( ch'ien li chih hsing shih y� tsu ), Easy ( yi ), Hold or Grasp ( ch'ih ), Not Grasping, Appear or Manifest ( chao ), Brittle or Fragile (ts'ui), Melt or Dissolve ( p'an ), Small or Minute ( wei ), Disperse or Scatter ( san ), Act or Do ( wei ), Exist or Being ( yu ), Govern or Rule ( chih ), Trouble or Disorder ( luan ), Join or Unite ( ho ), Embrace or Hold ( pao ), Tree ( mu ), Embrace the Big Tree ( pao mu ), Grows or Springs ( sh�ng ), Tiny ( hao ), Seed or Sprout ( mo ), Nine Stories or Nine Levels ( chiu ts'�ng ), Tower ( t'ai ), Rises or High (ch'i), Heap or Pile ( lei ), Earth or Dirt ( t'u ), Thousand or Many ( ch'ien ), Distance or .3 Mile (li), Journey ( hsing ), Feet (tsu), Below ( hsia ), Fail or Ruin ( pai ), Seize ( chih ), Loss ( shih ), Master or Sage ( sh�ng j�n ), Transgressions ( kuo ), Remain Careful to the End, Guarding the Small, Plan or Prevent ( mou ), Great Things Have Humble Beginnings, Be Present Now, Takes No Action or Does Not Act to Change ( wu wei ), Follow ( ts'ung ), Affairs or Projects or Business ( shih ), Basics, Twigs, Beginning, Constant or Always ( ch'ang ), Near ( chi ), Success ( ch'�ng ), Desire or Want ( y� ), Honor ( kuei ), Difficult ( nan ), Obtain ( t� ), Treasures ( huo ), Learn ( hs�eh ), Return ( fu ), All ( chung ), Missed ( kuo ), Assists ( fu ), Dare or Venture ( kan ), Naturalness, Simplicity, Few Desires, Do No Harm, Careful or Cautious or Attention ( sh�n ), Concentration, Not Grasping, Break, Heedful, Leading, Guard the Minute, Act ( wei ), Motionless, Sage, Ends, Heedful, Virtue, Order, Self Becoming ( tzu-jan ), Spontaneous ( zifa ), Ten Thousand Things, Non-Attachment,   守微  T�rminos en Espa�ol:   No te Aferres, Gobierno, El Viaje de Mil Millas Comienza con un Solo Ppaso, No Agarrando, �rbol, Torre, Transgresiones, Sabio, Santo, Trastorno, Guarda el Peque�o, Trastorno, Grandes Cosas Tienen Principios Humildes, Estar Presentes Ahora, Fundamentos, Ramitas, Viaje, Comienzo, Trabajo, Maestro, Deseo, Naturalidad, Sencillez, Dispersi�n, Pocos Deseos, No Hacer Da�o, Sentado , Fr�gil, Atenci�n, Concentraci�n, No Agarrando, Atento, Fracaso, Facil, Liderar, Guardia del Minuto, Ley, de Aprendizaje, Inm�vil, Extremos, Acci�n, Virtud, Espont�neo, Diez Mil Cosas, Contenido, Pac�fica , Resto , Sentado, F�cil, Agarre , Aparecer , Manifiesto , Prevenir, Fr�gil , Disolver , Peque�o, Minuto , Disperso , Fundir, D ispersi�n, Mantener, Si lo hace , Existir , Ser, Govern, Regla, Trouble , Ingreso, , Mantenga , �rbol, Crece, Springs, Tiny , Semilla, Brote , Nueve Niveles , Rises , Alta, Unite, Embrace, Brotar, Diminuto, Pila , Tierra , Tierra, Mil , Muchos, Distancia , Milla, Fetichismo, Paso , Abajo , Ruina, P�rdida, Maestro, Sabio, Siga , Relaciones , Proyectos, Empresas, Siempre , Cerca de, �xito, Cuidadosa , Prudente , Atenci�n, Quieres , Honra, Obtener, Tesoros , Aprender , Retorno, Todas, Perdidas, Asistencias , Arteverse, Riesgo. 

Electronic Concordance for Chapters 1 - 81 of the Tao Te Ching

English Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

"When sitting still, they are easy to hold down No omens yet, it is easy to plan When fragile, they are easy to break When small, they are easy to scatter.  Work on it when it isn't yet Put it in order when it is not yet disordered.  A tree you can barely get your arms around grows from a tiny shoot A nine-story tower begins as a heap of earth A thousand mile journey begins under your feet. Working ruins, grasping loses. The wise person does not work, so does not ruin Does not grasp, so does not lose. 'When the people are engaged in some task, They are always on the point of finishing when they ruin it.' Careful at the end just as at the beginning, Then there will be no ruining of the work.  The wise person desires to be desireless Does not prize goods hard to come by Learns to be un-learned Turns back to the place all others have gone on from. So as to help the naturalness Of the thousands of things Without presuming to be a worker." -  Translated by Michael LaFargue , 1992, Chapter 64   

"It is easier to maintain the status quo when things are established and stabilised. It is easier to correct things when the incipient signs of trouble have just occurred. Fragile things disintegrate quickly. Minute things disperse readily. You should act well before the rot has set in. You should take effective measures before chaos arises. A tree broader than a man's embrace grows from a tiny seedling. The tallest tower starts from a clod of earth. The longest journey begins with the first step. He who schemes will fail, and he who grasps tightly will lose it. Hence, the sage does not scheme and will not fail. He does not hold fast so he will not lose it. Failure usually occurs at the cusp of succeeding. If you pay careful attention from start to finish, there will be few failures. What the sage wants is the opposite of what others want. Hence, the sage does not covet rare objects. The sage learns what others don't want to learn. Thus, he avoids making mistakes that others commonly make. The sage only facilitates. He lets things evolve, but he does not interfere." -  Translated by Han Hiong Tan , Chapter 64 

"Troubles can be avoided even before arising. When harmony is maintained beforehand, Confusion is not able to surface. By closing the door, the entry is not possible, A big tree was in its beginning a tiny offshoot, Thus a great expedition starts with a little step. The Wise Person is not looking to gain anything, He does not want glory or reputation. Thus he cannot loose anything. This is his living proof of achievements without efforts." -  Translated by Sarbatoare , Chapter 64

"What is secure is easily grasped, What has no omens is easily forestalled, What is brittle is easily split, What is minuscule is easily dispersed. Act before there is a problem; Bring order before there is disorder. A tree that fills the arms' embrace is born from a downy shoot; A terrace nine layers high starts from a basketful of earth; An ascent of a hundred strides begins beneath one's foot. Who acts fails; Who grasps loses. For this reason, The sage does not act. Therefore, He does not fail. He does not grasp. Therefore, He does not lose. In pursuing their affairs, people often fail when they are close to success. Therefore, If one is as cautious at the end as at the beginning, there will be no failures. For this reason, The sage desires to be without desire and does not prize goods that are hard to obtain; He learns not to learn and reverts to what the masses pass by. Thus, he can help the myriad creatures be natural, but dares not act. " -  Translated by Victor H. Mair , 1990, Chapter 64

"When it is peaceful, it is easy to maintain When it shows no signs, it is easy to plan  When it is fragile, it is easy to break When it is small, it is easy to scatter Act on it when it has not yet begun Treat it when it is not yet chaotic A tree thick enough to embrace Grows from the tiny sapling A tower of nine levels Starts from the dirt heap A journey of a thousand miles Begins beneath the feet

The one who meddles will fail The one who grasps will lose Therefore, sages do not meddle and thus do not fail They do not grasp and thus do not lose

People, in handling affairs Often come close to completion and fail If they are as careful in the end as the beginning Then they would have no failure

Therefore, sages desire not to desire They do not value goods that are hard to acquire They learn to unlearn To redeem the fault of the people To assist the nature of all things Without daring to meddle" -  Translated by Derek Linn , 2006, Chapter 64 

"It is easy to sustain what is at rest. It is easy to plan for that of which there is not even a sign. What is fragile is easily broken. What is minute is easily dispersed. Act upon it before it exists.  Regulate it before it becomes chaos.  A massive tree grows from a little sprout.  A nine-story building rises from a clod of earth. A thousand fathoms begin with a single step.  Those who impose action upon it will fail.  Thos who cling to it will loose it. So the sage, through non-action, does not fail.  Not clinging, he does not lose.  The common people's engagement in affairs fails prior to success. So the saying goes, "give as much careful attention to the end as to the beginning: then the affairs will not fail" It is on that account that the sage desires not to desire and does not value goods that are hard to get. He learns not to learn and restores the common people's losses. He is able to support the nature of all things and , not by daring, to impose action." -  Translated by Edward Brennan and Tao Huang , 2002, Chapter 64 

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research , Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  � 2020 CCA 4.0

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"That which is at rest is easily kept hold of; Before a thing has given indications of its presence, it is easy to take measures against it; That which is brittle is easily broken; That which is very small is easily dispersed. Action should be taken before a thing has made its appearance; Order should be secured before disorder has begun. The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout; The tower of nine stories rose from a small heap of earth; The journey of a thousand li commenced with a single step. He who acts with an ulterior purpose does harm; He who takes hold of a thing in the same way loses his hold. The sage does not act so, and therefore does no harm; He does not lay hold so, and therefore does not lose his bold. But people in their conduct of affairs are constantly ruining them when they are on the eve of success. If they were careful at the end, as they should be at the beginning, they would not so ruin them. Therefore the sage desires what other men do not desire, and does not prize things difficult to get; He learns what other men do not learn, and turns back to what the multitude of men have passed by. Thus he helps the natural development of all things, and does not dare to act with an ulterior purpose of his own." -  Translated by James Legge , 1891, Chapter 64   

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"What is still at rest is easily kept quiet. What has not as yet appeared is easily prevented. What is still feeble is easily broken. What is still scant is easily dispersed. Treat things before they exist. Regulate things before disorder begins. The stout tree has originated from a tiny rootlet. A tower of nine stories is raised by heaping up bricks of clay. A thousand miles' journey begins with a foot.  He that makes mars. He that grasps loses. The holy man does not make; therefore he mars not. He does not grasp; therefore he loses not. The people when undertaking an enterprise are always near completion, and yet they fail.  Remain careful to the end as in the beginning and you will not fail in your enterprise.  Therefore the holy man desires to be desireless, and does not prize articles difficult to obtain. He learns, not to be learned, and seeks a home where multitudes of people pass by.  He assists the ten thousand things in their natural development, but he does not venture to interfere."  -  Translated by D. T. Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 64 

"What is at rest is easy to maintain. What has not yet happened is easy to plan. That which is fragile is easily shattered That which is tiny is easily scattered. Correct problems before they occur. Intervene before chaos erupts. A tree too big around to hug is produced from a tiny sprout. A nine-story tower begins with a mound of dirt. A thousand-mile journey begins with your own two feet. Whoever tries will fail. Whoever clutches, loses. Therefore the Sage, not trying, cannot fail Not clutching, she cannot lose. When people try, They usually fail just on the brink of success. If one is as cautious at the outset as at the end, One cannot fail. Therefore the Sage desires nothing so much as to be desireless. She does not value rare and expensive goods. She unlearns what she was once taught And helps the people regain what they have lost; To help every being assume its natural way of being, And not dare to force anything." -  Translated by John R. Mabry , 1994, Chapter 64

"Silence is easy to break future is easy to plan gentle is easy to hurt tiny is easy to lose Look ahead, see forms before they become things deal with them before they become set them in order before they collide See the sequoia began as small as a bean sprout the skyscraper began as a hole in the earth the longest trip begins with the first step.

Act, and you hurt grab, and it slips away own, and it is stolen believe, and it is shown false. The wise do not act, and nothing is hurt do not grab, and nothing slips do not own, and nothing is lost do not believe, and nothing is false

Others fall short right before their long-awaited success. The end is as important as the beginning, thus the wise person wants only the unwanted; values the common, not the scarce; teaches the things that others don't; returns others to the past they left behind, such that everything is valued for itself by itself all done by not doing." -  Translated by Tom Kunesh , Chapter 64  

"It's easy to embrace the tranquil and easy to prevent trouble before omens appear. It's easy for the trifling to melt away and easy for the slight to scatter away. Work at things before they've begun and establish order before confusion sets in, for a tree you can barely reach around grows from the tiniest rootlet, a nine-tiered tower starts as a basket of dirt, a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step. Work at things and you ruin them; cling to things and you lose them. That's why a sage does nothing and so ruins nothing, clings to nothing and so loses nothing. When people devote themselves to something they always ruin it on the verge of success. Finish with the same care you took in beginning and you'll avoid ruining things. This is why a sage desires without desire, never longing for rare treasures, learns without learning, always returning to what people have passed by, helps the ten thousand things occur of themselves by never presuming to work at them." -  Translated by David Hinton , Chapter 64  

"When things are stable, it is easy to hold. When problems have not occurred, they are easy to cope with. When things are brittle, they break easily. When things are tiny, they dissolve easily. Prepare for problems before they appear. Put things in order before they become chaotic. Giant trees grow from tiny seeds. High-rise buildings start from the first mound of earth. Long journeys begin with a first step. People often fail when the tasks are close to complete. If they keep working as diligently as the beginning, then they would not fail. Sages want things others do not want. They do not treasure rare goods. They study things others ignore. They remind themselves of others' mistakes. They let everything develops naturally and do not dare to force it." -  Translated by Thomas Zhang , Chapter 64

Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-Depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic   By Hu Xuzehi

Tao te ching   annotated translation by victor mair  , reading lao tzu: a companion to the tao te ching with a new translation   by ha poong kim, the philosophy of the daodejing   by hans-georg moeller  .

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices    By Mike Garofalo

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation   By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall

The way and its power: lao tzu's tao te ching and its place in chinese thought    by arthur waley.

"Tackle difficulties when they are easy, Accomplish great things when they are small. Handle what is going to be rough        when it is still smooth.   Control what has not yet formed its force.  Deal with a dangerous situation while it is safe.  Manage what is hard while it is soft.  Eliminate what is vicious     before it becomes destructive.  This is called "attending to great things at small beginnings.

A tree so big it can fill the span of a man's arms     grows from a tiny sprout.  A terrace nine stories high      rises from a shovel-full of earth.   A journey of a thousand miles     begins with a single step.  Thus, one of integral virtue     never sets about grandiose things,     yet is able to achieve great things. 

Lightly made promises inspire little confidence. Making light of things at the beginning,     one will meet with failure in the end.  Being prepared for hardship,     one will not be overcome by it. In handing their affairs, people often ruin them     just as they are on the verge of success.  With heedfulness in the beginning     and all the way through to the end,     nothing is ruined." -  Translation by Hua-Ching Ni , 1979, Chapter 64      The Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching and Hua Hu Ching .

A Chinese Language Version of Chapter 64 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu A note on my style of displaying the Chinese characters of the Tao Te Ching

其安易持. 其未兆易謀. 其脆易泮. 其微易散. 為之於未有. 治之於未亂. 合抱之木, 生於毫末. 九層之臺, 起於累土. 千里之行, 始於足下. 為者敗之. 執者失之. 是以聖人無為故無敗. 無執故無失. 民之從事, 常於幾成而敗之. 慎終如始, 則無敗事. 是以聖人欲不欲, 不貴難得之貨. 學不學, 復衆人之所過, 以輔萬物之自然而不敢為. -  Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching , Chapter 64

ch'i an yi ch'ih. ch'i wei chao yi mou. ch'i ts'ui yi p'an. ch'i wei yi san. wei chih y� wei yu. chih chih y� wei luan. ho pao chih mu, sh�ng y� hao mo. chiu ts'eng chih t'ai, ch'i y� lei t'u. ch'ien li chih hsing, shih y� tsu hsia. wei ch� pai chih. chih ch� shih chih. shih yi sh�ng jen wu wei ku wu pai.  wu chih ku wu shih. min chih ts'ung shih, ch'ang y� chi ch'�ng erh pai chih. sh�n chung ju shih ts� wu pai shih.  shih yi sh�ng j�n y� pu y�, pu kuei nan t� chih huo. hs�eh pu hs�eh, fu chung j�n chih so kuo, yi fu wan wu chih tzu jan erh pu kan wei. -  Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 64

Audio Version in Chinese of Chapter 64 of the Tao Te Ching

qi an yi chi.  qi wei zhao yi mou. qi cui yi pan.  qi wei yi san.  wei zhi yu wei you.  zhi zhi yu wei luan.  he bao zhi mu, sheng yu hao mo. jiu ceng zhi tai, qi yu lei tu. qian li zhi xing, shi yu zu xia.  wei zhe bai zhi.   zhi zhe shi zhi. shi yi sheng ren wu wei gu wu bai. wu zhi gu wu shi.  min zhi cong shi, chang yu ji cheng er bai zhi.  shen zhong ru shi ze wu bai shi.  shi yi sheng ren yu bu yu, bu gui nan de zhi huo.    xue bu xue,  fu zhong ren zhi suo guo, yi fu wan wu zhi zi ran er bu gan wei.  -  Hanyu Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing , Chapter 64

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English (includes a word by word key) from YellowBridge

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Hanyu Pinyin (1982) Romanization, English and German by Dr. Hilmar Alquiros. 

Laozi Daodejing : Chapters with Chinese characters, seal script, detailed word by word concordance, Pinyin (tone#), German, French and English. 

Chinese and English Dictionary, MDGB

Google Translator

Chinese Character Dictionary

Dao De Jing Wade-Giles Concordance by Nina, Dao is Open

Dao De Jing English and Wade-Giles Concordance by Mike Garofalo

Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization with Chinese characters, WuWei Foundation

Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English

Tao Te Ching: English translation, Word by Word Chinese and English, and Commentary, Center Tao by Carl Abbott

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, English, Word by word analysis, Zhongwen

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters: Big 5 Traditional and GB Simplified

Convert from Pinyin to Wade Giles to Yale Romanizations of Words and Terms: A Translation Tool from Qi Journal

Chinese Characters, Wade-Giles and Pinyin Romanizations , and 16 English Translations for Each Chapter of the Daodejing by Mike Garofalo. 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Wade-Giles and Pinyin Romanization spellings, English ; a word for word translation of the Guodian Laozi Dao De Jing Version. 

Lao Zi's Dao De Jing : A Matrix Translation with Chinese Text by Bradford Hatcher. 

"What is at rest is easy to hold. What is not yet manifested is easy to forestall. What is brittle is easy to melt. What is minute is easy to disperse. Act before a thing is there; create order before there is disorder. A tree of an arm's span has grown from a tiny fibre. A tower nine storey's high was raised from a heap of earth. A journey of a thousand leagues started with what was under one footstep.   In promoting their affairs men often spoil them when they are about to succeed. Heed the end as much as the beginning, then no affairs will be spoiled. Therefore the Saint desires not to desire and does not prize goods that are difficult to obtain. He learns not to learn and reverts to what all men pass by. Thus he sustains the natural course of the ten thousand thing, but he dares not act." -  Translated by Jan J. L. Duyvendak , 1954, Chapter 64  

"What is at rest is easy to grasp. What has not yet happened is easy to plan for. What is fragile is easily broken. What is minute is easily scattered. Act before it happens. Exert control before it gets out of hand. A tree that takes both arms to embrace starts off as a tiny shoot. A nine story terrace starts with a basket of earth. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Those who force things to happen are defeated by them. Those who cling to things lose them. This is why wise people do not force issues and are not defeated. They do not cling and they do not lose. When people are engaged in enterprises; it is always when they have nearly succeeded that they fail. If we are as careful at the end as we were at the beginning, then we will not fail in our ventures. This is why wise people want not to want, and do not value rare and expensive goods. They learn what is not studied and return to what others have ignored. They assist all things in realizing their true nature, yet they do not presume to interfere with them." -  Translated by Roderic and Amy Sorrell , 2003, Chapter 64

"A tall tree requires deep roots, otherwise it will topple. If a problem is prevented, it doesn't arise. If your attainment is brittle it will easily shatter. Small things are easily lost. Don't take short cuts, but deal with everything fully before moving on. If you do this your progress will be steady. A mighty oak rises out of an acorn. A human develops out of a microscopic egg. A thousand mile journey starts with one step. These processes cannot be completed in one act. If you try to make something great happen and overlook the processes involved, you will fail. Only by letting the process play out naturally can you achieve the Tao. Therefore the master doesn't try to achieve. He simply follows the process calmly from start to finish. Death is stalking him, so he has nothing to cling to. His only desire is non-desire; his only learning is to unlearn. He shows people what they have always been. He loves nothing except the Tao. Therefore he can love everything." -  Translated by David Bullen , Chapter 64

"What stays still is easy to hold. Without omens it is easy to plan. The brittle is easy to shatter. The minute is easy to scatter. Handle things before they appear. Organize things before there is confusion. A tree as big as a person's embrace grows from a tiny shoot. A tower nine stories high begins with a mound of earth. A journey of a thousand miles begins under one's feet. To act is to fail. To grab is to lose. Therefore the wise do not act and do not fail. They do not grab and do not lose. In handling things people usually fail when they are about to succeed. Be as careful at the end as at the beginning, and there will be no failure. Therefore the wise desire to have no desires. They do not value rare treasures. They learn what is unknown, returning to what many have missed so that all things may be natural without interference." -  Translated by Sanderson Beck , 1996, Chapter 64, "Do Not Grab." 

�What stays still is easy to hold; Before there has been an omen it is easy to lay plans. What is tender is easily torn, What is minute is easy to scatter.� Deal with things in their state of not-yet-being, Put them in order before they have got into confusion. For �the tree big as a man's embrace began as a tiny sprout, The tower nine stories high began with a heap of earth, The journey of a thousand leagues began with what was under the feet�. He who acts, harms; he who grabs, lets slip. Therefore the Sage does not act, and so does not harm; Does not grab, and so does not let slip. Whereas the people of the world, at their tasks, Constantly spoil things when within an ace of completing them. �Heed the end no less than the beginning,� And your work will not be spoiled. Therefore the Sage wants only things that are unwanted, Sets no store by products difficult to get, And so teaches things untaught, Turning all men back to the things they have left behind, That the ten thousand creatures may be restored to their Self-so. This he does; but dare not act." -  Translated by Arthur Waley , 1934, Chapter 64 

"Remaining still, it is easy to hold. Unmanifest and unforetold, there are no limits for the making of plans. Being brittle, it is easy to shatter. Being small, it is easy to disperse. Deal then with formative troubles before catastrophic events occur - Create order before confusion can begin. Truly - The giant tree begins as a tiny sprout. The high tower begins as a heap of earth. The long journey begins as a single step from where one stands. Overt acting causes harm and failure. Overt grasping causes loss. Thus the Sage, Acting not, neither harms or fails . Grasping not, does not lose. How often people fail as, using overt action, They are just about to succeed. Being as careful at the end as at the beginning, Not interfering with the natural course of things, Failure is averted. Therefore The Sage: - Desires to have what is unwanted. - Values not objects which are difficult to obtain. - Learns spontaneously without overt "Learning". - Returns to the tried and true of old, So that All Things are restored to their own true nature. Acting spontaneously from inborn direction, He avoids overt action." -  Translated by Alan B. Taplow , 1982, Chapter 64 

"What is at rest is easy to hold. What has not shown up is easy to take into account. What is frail is easy to break. What is vague is easy to dispel. Do it before it exists; govern it before there's disorder. The most massive tree grows from a sprout; the highest building rises from a pile of earth; a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Those who contrive spoil it; those who cling lose it. Thus sages contrive nothing, and so spoil nothing. They cling to nothing, and so lose noting. Therefore people's works are always spoiled on the verge of completion. Be as careful of the end as of the beginning, and nothing will be spoiled. Thus sages want to have no wants; they do not value goods hard to get. They learn not learning to recover from people's excesses, thereby to assist the naturalness of all beings, without daring to contrive." -  Translated by Thomas Cleary , 1991, Chapter 64

"What is at rest is easy to hold. What manifests no omens is easily forestalled. What is fragile is easily shattered. What is small is easily scattered.

Tackle things before they have appeared. Cultivate peace and order before confusion and disorder have set in.

A tree as big as a man's embrace springs from a tiny sprout. A tower nine stories high begins with a heap of earth. A journey of a thousand leagues starts from where your feet stand.

He who fusses over anything spoils it. He who grasps anything loses it. The Sage fusses over nothing and therefore spoils nothing. He grips at nothing and therefore loses nothing.

In handling affairs, people often spoil them just at the point of success. With heedfulness in the beginning and patience  at the end, nothing will be spoiled.

Therefore, the Sage desires to be desireless, Sets no value on rare goods, Learns to unlearn his learning, And induces the masses to return from where they have overpassed. He only helps all creatures to find their own nature, But does not venture to lead them by the nose." -  Translated by John C. H. Wu , 1961, Chapter 64

"That which is motionless can be easily held; That which has not been forecast can be easily planned; Hat which is still tender can be easily broken; That which is minute can be easily scattered. Take things in hand before they come into existence; Put things in order before they are in a state of confusion. The tree which fills your arms' embrace brew from a tine shoot; The nine-storey tower arose from a heap of earth. The journey of a thousand miles began with the spot of earth covered by one's own feet. He who acts, spoils. He who grasps, loses. The Sage does ot act: therefore he does not spoil things. He does no grasp; therefore he does not lose things. But ordinary people, eagerly going about their business, Often fail when the are on the verge of succeeding. Keep watch on the end as well as on the beginning; Then you will not fail. Therefore the Sage: Desires only the undesiring; He does not value things that are hard to come by. He learns how not to learn, Turning back to those things which others have passed through, And thus helps all creatures to fulfil their own natures. But he does not venture to act." -  Translated by Herman Ould , 1946, Chapter 64

"It is easy to control a situation when it is tranquil. It is easy to deal with a matter before the omen is cast. It is easy to break something when it is fragile. It is easy to scatter something when it is minute. Deal with things before they arise. Govern a situation before it descends into disorder. A huge tree as great as a man's arm-span grows from a tiny seed. A nine-storey terrace rises from a pile of earth. A thousand-mile journey starts from a single footstep. He who acts to reach something will lead to its decline. He who tries hard to hold on to something will lose it. That is why the sage does nothing, and leads nothing to decline. He does not hold on to anything, therefore he does not lose anything. People often lead their actions to the verge of success, then fail. Be careful to treat the end with equal care as the beginning. Then you will not fail. Therefore the sage desires not to desire, not to value precious goods, to learn how not to learn, to cover the mistakes of the multitude, to assist the myriad creatures according to the law of Nature. Yet he dares not act." -  Translated by Chao-Hsiu Chen , Chapter 64

"It is easy to grasp what is not yet in motion, to withstand what is not yet manifest, to break what is not yet compact, to disperse what is not yet coherent. Act against things before they become visible; attend to order before disorder ariseth.

The tree which filleth the embrace grew from a small shoot; the tower nine-storied rose from a low foundation; the ten-day journey began with a single step.

He who acteth worketh harm; he who graspeth findeth it a slip. The wise man acteth not, so worketh no harm; he doth not grasp, and so doth not let go. Men often ruin their affairs on the eve of success, because they are not as prudent at the end as in the beginning.

The wise man willeth what others do not will, and valueth not things rare. He learneth what others learn not, and gathered up what they despise. Thus he is in accord with the natural course of events, and is not overbold in action." -  Translated (Interpolated) by Aleister Crowley , 1918, Chapter 64 

The Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching & Hua Hu Ching    Translation and elucidation by Hua Ching Ni

The tao te ching of lao tzu    translated by brian walker, tao te ching   translated by arthur waley, tao - the way    translated by lionel and and herbert giles, taoism: an essential guide    by eva wong.

"Before it move, hold it, Before it go wrong, mould it, Drain off water in winter before it freeze, Before weeds grow, sow them to the breeze. You can deal with what has not happened, can foresee Harmful events and not allow them to be. Though-- as naturally as a seed becomes a tree of arm-wide girth- There can rise a nine-tiered tower from a man's handful of earth Or here at your feet a thousand-mile journey have birth, Quick action bruises, Quick grasping loses. Therefore a sane man's care is not to exert One move that can miss, one move that can hurt. Most people who miss, after almost winning, Should have 'known the end from the beginning.' A sane man is sane in knowing what things he can spare, In not wishing what most people wish, In not reaching for things that seem rare. The cultured might call him heathenish, This man of few words, because his one care Is not to interfere but to let nature renew The sense of direction men undo." -  Translated by Witter Bynner , 1944, Chapter 64 

"That which lies still is easy to hold; That which is not yet manifest is easy to forestall; That which is brittle (like ice) easily melts; That which is minute easily scatters. Deal with a thing before it is there; Check disorder before it is rife. A tree with a full span's girth begins from a tiny sprout; A nine-storied terrace begins with a clod of earth. A journey of a thousand li beings at one's feet. He who acts, spoils; He who grasps, lets slip. Because the Sage does not act, he does not spoil, Because he does not grasp, he does not let slip. The affairs of men are often spoiled within an ace of completion. By being careful at the end as at the beginning Failure is averted. Therefore the Sage desires to have no desire, And values not objects difficult to obtain. Learns that which is unlearned, And restores what the multitude have lost. That he may assist in the course of Nature And not presume to interfere." -  Translated by Lin Yutang , 1955, Chapter 64 

"What is at rest is easy to hold; What is not yet begun is easy to plan. What is thin is easy to melt; What is minute is easy to disperse. Deal with things before they emerge; Put them in order before there is disorder. A tree of many arm spans is produced from a tiny sprout. A tower of nine stories is raised from a pile of earth. A journey of a thousand miles begin with a footstep. Those who act on things, spoil them; Those who seize things, lose them. Thus Evolved Individuals do nothing; Hence they spoil nothing. They seize nothing; Hence they lose nothing. People often spoil their work at the point of its completion. With care at the end as well as the beginning, No work will be spoiled. Thus Evolved Individuals desire to be desireless And do not treasure goods that are hard to get. They learn without learning, By returning to the place where the Collective Mind passes. In this way they assist All Things naturally Without venturing to act." -  Translated by R. L. Wing , 1986, Chapter 64

"What is secure is easy to hold What has yet to begin is easy to plan for What is thin is easy to break up What is minute is easy to scatter Attend to things before they come to be Arrange things before they entangle A tree which fills the joined embrace Has grown from a slender shoot A tower which reaches nine stories Begins as a basket of earth A journey of a thousand li Begins from beneath the feet Those who interfere spoil things Those who grab lose things This is why wise ones do not interfere and so do not spoil Do not grab and so do not lose People in their pursuits & affairs (are) ever on the verge of achieving and still ruin things Take care at the end as well as at the beginning And then there will be no ruined affairs This is why wise ones desire to have no desires Do not prize goods which are hard to obtain Learn to unlearn And return to what everyone else has passed by Thus helping the myriad beings to realize themselves While not presuming to interfere" -  Translated by Bradford Hatcher , 2005, Chapter 64 

"What�s stable is easy to secure, The unmanifest to plan against, The fragile to splinter, The incipient to dissolve. Act before events occur: Decision can prevent disorder. A tree of girth Grows from a twig. A nine-tier tower From a basket of earth; And a thousand-mile journey Begins where one stands. Those who take the lead shall fail. Those who cling lose hold. This is why men of wisdom, Taking no lead, do not fail, Not clinging, do not lose hold. How often do people, assuming a task, Ruin it at the verge of success? Hence the saying, �Careful at the end as at the start, And your task shall not abort.� This is why the worldly wise Seek what others do not seek, �Prize not goods hard to find,� Learn what others do not learn: Redeem the wrongs many have done. In this way support and sustain The self-becoming of the myriad, And do not presume to act upon them." -  Translated by Moss Roberts , 2001, Chapter 64 

"What has equilibrium is easy to maintain. What hasn't begun is easy to plan. What is fragile is easy to shatter. What is small is easy to scatter. Deal with things before they arise. Cultivate order before confusion sets in. The tallest tree springs from a tiny shoot. The tallest tower is built from a pile of dirt. A journey of a thousand miles begins at your feet. Interfere with things, and you'll be defeated by them. Hold on to things, and you'll lose them. The sage doesn't interfere, so he doesn't fail; doesn't hold on, so he doesn't lose. Because projects often come to ruin just before completion, he takes as much care at the end as he did at the beginning, and thereby succeeds. His only desire is to be free of desire. Fancying nothing, learning not to know, electing not to interfere, he helps all beings become themselves." -  Translated by Brian Browne Walker , 1996, Chapter 64 

Lieh-Tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living   Translated by Eva Wong

The daodejing of laozi    translated by philip ivahoe , daoism: a beginner's guide    by james miller, early daoist scriptures   translated by stephen bokencamp, simple taoism: a guide to living in balance   by alexander and annellen simpkins, practical taoism   translated by thomas cleary, daoism and chinese culture   by livia kohn.

"That which has balance is easy to maintain. That which has not arisen is easy to forestall. That which is brittle is easy to shatter. That which is minuscule is easy to scatter. Therefore, manage problems before they arise; Create order before disorder sets in. A tree as large as the arms' embrace grows from a downy shoot. A terrace nine stories high rises from a shovelful of earth. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. One who acts from the delusion of grandiosity fails. One who clings to the delusion of grandiosity loses. The sage does not act from delusion, and therefore he does not fail, Nor does he cling to delusion, and therefore he does not lose. Because of the delusion of grandiosity, On the verge of success, people often fail. If they would take as much care at the end as at the beginning, They would not fail in their affairs. The sage does not desire what the masses desire; He does not treasure what the masses treasure. He studies what the masses do not study; He returns to the source of knowledge ignored by the masses. Thus, without acting in delusion, The sage supports all beings as they naturally exist." -  Translated by Yasuhiko Genku Kimura , Chapter 64 

"Easy it is to guide what is still at rest to forestall what is not yet manifest to bend what is still weak to master what is still small. Therefore, put order into things in their not-yet-being. Guide in the bud what will later be awkward and unmanageable. The strongest tree grows from a tiny rootlet the highest house rises from a clod of earth a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Interfering disturbs and spoils grasping causes disappearance and loss. Therefore the Sage: Not grasping he does not disturb and spoil. Not interfering he does not lose. The masses instead busily greedily interfering grasping for plenitude are at an end before completion ... They would not fail before the goal if they took care of the beginning as of the end of the small as of the great! Follow the Sage: Content with little he does not fail. Heeding what is unheeded letting things ripen and biding his time he follows the wisdom of non-action and attains what belongs to him." -  Translated by K. O. Schmidt , 1975, Chapter 64

"Things are easier to control while things are quiet. Things are easier to plan far in advance. Things break easier while they are still brittle. Things are easier hid while they are still small. Prevent problems before they arise. Take action before things get out of hand. The tallest tree begins as a tiny sprout. The tallest building starts with one shovel of dirt. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single footstep. If you rush into action, you will fail. If you hold on too tight, you will lose your grip. Therefore the Master lets things take their course and thus never fails. She doesn't hold on to things and never loses them. By pursing your goals too relentlessly, you let them slip away. If you are as concerned about the outcome as you are about the beginning, then it is hard to do things wrong. The master seeks no possessions. She learns by unlearning, thus she is able to understand all things. This gives her the ability to help all of creation." -  Translated by John H. McDonald , 1996, Chapter 64 

"His Restfulness is easily maintained. Events foreseen by him are easily arranged for. By him weak things are easily bent, And small things are easily scattered. He can stop an evil before it comes into existence. He can keep a twig straight before it becomes crooked. Behold the girth of this tree! It grew from a small filament of a stalk. This tower of nine stories has its base upon a small space on the earth. The journey of a thousand miles began with a footstep on the ground. He who makes, unmakes. He who grasps, lets go. That is why the self-controlled man by Inner Life can make and by Inner life unmake, by Inner Life can grasp and by Inner Life let go. Men in business affairs come near perfection, then fail. If they were as attentive at the end as at the beginning their business would succeed. That is why the self-controlled man desires to have no wishes; he sets no value upon rare objects; he learns without study; he helps all beings by the outflow of his personality; and he does this without planning to do it." -  Translated by Isabella Mears , 1916, Chapter 64

"When everything is peaceful, don't forget the danger; When things are safe, don't lose your edge - A brittle thing can break easily And a small thing fragment.

So 'act before it happens'. 'order things before chaos breaks out'.

A great tree which takes a crowd to span its base Started from being a tiny seed; And a tower nice sections high began in the ground.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.

To act as if you know it all is catastrophic: and if you try to control it

you will stare into your empty hand." -  Translated by Man Ho Kwok, Martin Palmer, and Jay Ramsay , 1993, Chapter 64 

"What is motionless is easy to hold; What is not yet foreshadowed is easy to form plans for; What is fragile is easy to break; What is minute is easy to disperse. Deal with a thing before it comes into existence; Regulate a thing before it gets into confusion. The common people in their business often fail on the verge of succeeding. Take care with the end as you do with the beginning, And you will have no failure." -  Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao , 1904, Chapter 64 

"That which is at rest is easy to be kept hold of,

And what has made no sign, and is yet concealed from all,

Is easy to be taken care of then by proper measures,

 Break it while it is feeble, scatter it while it is small.

Act before it exists, regulate before disorder,

The mighty tree that fills the arms has grown from a tiny sprout,

From a little mound of earth was raised the tower of nine stories,

And the journey of a thousand miles began with the first step out.

He that makes mars, he that grasps loses;

The sage will neither make, nor mar, nor grasp, and cannot lose,

But people fail in business, on the verge of its succeeding,

By losing at the end the care they first began to use.

And so the sage does not desire the things desired by others,

He does not prize the treasures that are difficult to obtain,

He learns what others do not learn, he turns back to their leavings,

And helps spontaneous nature, but dares not to constrain." -  Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger , 1903, Chapter 64 

"What is at rest is easy to hold; What has not yet appeared is easy to plan. What is fragile is easy to shatter; What is small is easy to scatter. Act before the problem happens; Manage before disorder arises. A tree as big as one's embrace springs from a tiny sprout; A tower with nine stories starts from a heap of earth; A walk of a thousand miles begins from where one stands. One who acts will fail; One who becomes attached will lose. Therefore, the sage, without acting, does not fail, Without becoming attached, does not lose. The people, in doing, fail at the point of success. One should be as cautious at the end as at the beginning; Then there will be no failure. Therefore, the sage desires to be desireless And does not value rare treasures, Learns to be unlearned And reforms the faults of people. He aids all things in their natural development And dares to not act on them." -  Translated by Yi Wu , Chapter 64  

"Was noch ruhig ist, l��t sich leicht ergreifen. Was noch nicht hervortritt, l��t sich leicht bedenken. Was noch zart ist l��t sich leicht zerbrechen. Was noch klein ist l��t sich leicht zerstreuen. Man mu� wirken auf das, was noch nicht da ist. Man mu� ordnen, was noch nicht in Verwirrung ist. Ein Baum von einem Klafter Umfang entsteht aus einem haarfeinem H�lmchen. Ein neun Stufen hoher Turm entsteht aus einem H�uflein Erde. Eine tausend Meilen weite Reise beginnt vor deinen F��en. Wer handelt, verdirbt es. Wer festh�lt, verliert es. Also auch der Berufene: Er handelt nicht, so verdirbt er nichts. Er h�lt nicht fest, so verliert er nichts. Die Leute gehen an ihre Sachen, und immer wenn sie fast fertig sind, so verderben sie es. Das Ende ebenso in acht nehmen wie den Anfang, dann gibt es keine verdorbenen Sachen.  Also auch der Berufene: Er w�nscht Wunschlosigkeit. Er h�lt nicht wert schwer zu erlangende G�ter. Er lernt das Nichtlernen. Er wendet sich zu dem zur�ck, an dem die Menge vor�ber geht. Darum f�rdert er den nat�rlichen Lauf der Dinge und wagt nicht zu handeln." -  Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 6 4

"Lebensmeisterung durch Beachten der Lebensgesetze Was noch verharrt, kann leicht festgehalten werden. Was noch nichts gilt, kann leicht beeinflusst werden. Was noch schwach ist, kann leicht gebrochen werden. Was noch federleicht ist, kann leicht verweht werden. Bevor etwas wird, mu� man auf es wirken. Bevor etwas verwirrt ist, mu� man es ordnen. Jeder Riese unter den B�umen hatte einmal ein einziges Wurzelhaar. Auch ein neunst�ckiger Bau erstand auf einer Scholle. Eine Reise von tausend Meilen beginnt mit einem ersten Schritt. Wer etwas (wider die Gesetze des Lebens) erreichen will, der mu� scheitern. Wer etwas mit Gewalt gewinnen will, der mu� es verlieren. Daher ist der Weyse nicht eigenwillig, und daher scheitert er auch nicht. Er reisst nichts an sich, daher verliert er nichts. Die andern scheitern oft kurz vor dem Ziel, weil sie nicht auf die rechte Stunde warten k�nnen. W�rden sie Anfang und Ende bedenken, w�rde es ihnen auch gelingen. Darum erstrebt der Weyse die Wunschlosigkeit; er erstrebt nichts, was andern erstrebenswert erscheint. Ihm bedeutet Verstandeswissen nichts. Was nicht beachtet wird, beachtet er. So erwirkt er des Lebens Ordnung in sich und andern und st�rt niemals die Entwicklung aus sich selbst." -  Translated by Rudolf Backofen , 1949, Chapter 64 

"At rest is easy to hold. Not yet impossible is easy to plan. Brittle is easy to break. Fine is easy to scatter. Create before it exists. Lead before it goes astray. A tree too big to embrace Is born from a slender shoot. A nine-story rises from a pile of earth. A thousand-mile journey Begins with a single step. Act and you ruin it. Grasp and you lose it. Therefor,e the Sage Does not act And so does not ruin Does not grasp And so does not lose. People commonly ruin their work When they are near success. Proceed at the end as at the beginning And your work won't be ruined. Therefore the Sage Desires no desires Prizes no prizes Studies no studies And returns To what others pass by. The Sage helps all beings find their nature, But does not presume to act." -  Translated by Stephen Addiss , 1993, Chapter 64 

Zhuangzi (Chuang Tsu), Daoist Scripture: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Quotations, Notes

"What is small is easily held. What is expected is easily provided for. What is brittle is easily broken. What is small is soon dispersed. Transact your business before it takes shape. Regulate things before confusion begins. The tree which fills the arms grew from a tender shoot. The castle of nine stories was raised on a heap of earth. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Whoever designs only destroys. Whoever grasps, loses. The Sage does not act thus, therefore he does no harm. He does not grasp, and therefore he never loses. But the common people, in their undertakings, fail on the eve of success. If they were as prudent at the end as they are at the beginning, there would be no such failures. Therefore the Sage is only ambitious of what others despise, and sets no value on things difficult to obtain. He acquires no common learning, but returns to that which people have passed by. Thus he aims at simple development in all things, and acts without design." -  Translated by Walter Gorn Old , 1904, Chapter 64 

"It is easy to maintain a situation while it is still secure; It is easy to deal with a situation before symptoms develop; It is easy to break a thing when it is yet brittle; It is easy to dissolve a thing when it is yet minute.

Deal with a thing while it is still nothing; Keep a thing in order before disorder sets in.

A tree that can fill the span of a man's arms Grows from a downy tip; A terrace nine storeys high Rises from hodfuls of earth; A journey of a thousand miles Starts from beneath one's feet.

Whoever does anything to it will ruin it; Whoever lays hold of it will lose it.

Therefore the sage, because he does nothing, never ruins anything; And, because he does not lay hold of anything, loses nothing.

In their enterprises the people Always ruin them when on the verge of success. Be as careful at the end as at the beginning And there will be no ruined enterprises.

Therefore the sage desires not to desire And does not value goods which are hard to come by; Learns to be without learning And makes good the mistakes of the multitude In order to help the myriad creatures to be natural and to refrain from daring to act." -  Translated by D. C. Lau , 1963, Chapter 64  

"Ce qui est calme est ais� � maintenir; ce qui n'a pas encore paru est ais� � pr�venir Ce qui est faible est ais� � briser; ce qui est menu est ais� � disperser. Arr�tez le mal avant qu'il n'existe; calmez le d�sordre avant qu'il n'�clate. Un arbre d'une grand circonf�rence est n� d'une racine aussi d�li�e qu'un cheveu; Une tour de neuf �tages est sortie d'une poign�e de terre; un voyage de mille lis � commenc� par un pas! Celui qui agit �choue, celui qui s'attache � une choses la perd. De l� vient que le Saint n'agit pas, c'est pourquoi il n'�choue point. Il ne s'attache � rien, c'est pourquoi il ne perd point. Lorsque le peuple fait une chose, il �choue toujours au moment de r�ussir. Soyez attentif � la fin comme au commencement, et alors vous n'�chouerez jamais. De l� vient que le Saint fait consister ses d�sirs dans l'absence de tout d�sir. Il n'estime point les biens d'une acquisition difficile. Il fait consister son �tude dans l'absence de toute �tude, et se pr�serve des fautes des autres hommes. Il n'ose pas agir afin d'aider tous les �tres � suivre leur nature." -  Translated by Stanislas Julien , 1842, Chapter 64

Tao Te Ching    Traducido por Stephen Mitchell, versi�n espa�ola   

Tao Te Ching    Traducido al espa�ol por el Padre Carmelo Elorduy

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons   Consejos de Estilo de Vida de S abios

Tao Te Ching en Espa�ol

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo     Maduraci�n Duraznos: Estudios y Pr�cticas Tao�stas por Mike Garofalo

Tao Te Ching - Wikisource

Daodejing    Espa�ol, Ingl�s , y Chino Versiones Ling��sticas de la Daodejing

Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

"Lo que est� en reposo es f�cil de retener. Lo que no ha sucedido es f�cil de resolver. Lo que es fr�gil es f�cil de romper. Lo que es peque�o es f�cil de dispersar. Prevenir antes de que suceda, y ordenar antes de que aparezca el desorden. El �rbol que casi no puede rodearse con los brazos, brot� de una semilla min�scula. La torre de nueve pisos, comenz� siendo un mont�n de tierra. Un viaje de mil leguas, comienza con el primer paso. Al manejar sus asuntos, la gente suele estropearlos justo al borde de su culminaci�n. Prestando total atenci�n al principio y con paciencia al final, nada se echa a perder. Por eso, el Sabio carece de deseos, no codicia los bienes de dif�cil alcance, aprende a olvidar lo que le hab�an inculcado. Le devuelve a los hombres la fluidez que han perdido, y as�, sin dominarlos, favorece la evoluci�n natural de los diez mil seres." -  Translation from Wikisource , 2013, Tao Te Ching , Cap�tulo 64

"Lo que a�n est� quieto es f�cil de coger. Lo que a�n no se manifiesta es f�cil de tener en cuenta. Lo que a�n es fr�gil se puede quebrar con facilidad. Lo que a�n es peque�o puede dispersarse f�cilmente. Hay que influir en lo que no existe todav�a. Hay que ordenar lo que a�n no est� desordenado. Un �rbol cuyo grosor es de una braza, nace de un tallo fino como un cabello. Una torre de nueve plantas se levantar� con un mont�culo de tierra.  Un viaje de mil millas empieza con un solo paso. Actuar es estropear. Retener es perder. El Sabio no act�a, y as� no estropea nada. No se aferra, y nada pierde. La gente se ocupa de sus asuntos, y siempre, poco antes de acabar, lo estropean todo. Si se cuidara tanto el final como el principio, no habr�a asuntos arruinados. Lo que el Sabio desea es no tener deseos. No valora los bienes de dif�cil alcance. Aprende el No-aprender. Se vuelve y ve aquello en que la gente no repara. As�, favorece el curso natural de las cosas, y no se arriesga a actuar." -  Translation into Spanish from Richard Wilhelm's 1911    German Version by an Unknown Spanish Translator, 2015, Cap�tulo 64

"Lo que est� en reposo es f�cil de retener. Lo que no ha sucedido es f�cil de resolver. Lo que es fr�gil es f�cil de romper. Lo que es menudo es f�cil de dispersar. Prevenir antes de que suceda, y ordenar antes de la confusi�n. El �rbol que casi no puede rodearse con los brazos, brot� de un germen min�sculo. La torre de nueve pisos, comenz� por un mont�n de tierra. El viaje de mil, empez� con un paso. Quien act�a, fracasa. Quien tiene, pierde, Por esto, el sabio nada hace y no fracasa; nada posee, y nada pierde. El hombre suele malograr la obra cuando va a concluirla. Cuidando del final como del principio, ninguna obra se perder�a. Por esto, el sabio aspira a no desear nada y a despreciar lo valioso. Aprende a no aprender, regresa por el camino que los dem�s ya han recorrido, y as�, sin atreverse a obrar, favorece la evoluci�n natural de todos los seres." -  Spanish Version Online at RatMachines , Tao Te Ching , Cap�tulo 64

"Lo que est� en equilibrio es f�cil de mantener. Lo que a�n no ha emergido es f�cil de concebir. Lo fr�gil es f�cil de disolver. Lo diminuto es f�cil de dispersar. Actuar cuando a�n no hay nada que hacer. Gobernar cuando a�n nada est� en desorden. Un �rbol de enorme per�metro comienza con un brote muy peque�o. Una torre de nueve pisos se construye a partir de un pu�ado de tierra. Un viaje de miles de LI se inicia con un paso. El que interfiere, fracasa. El que se aferra, pierde. Por lo tanto el sabio no interfiere y entonces no fracasa, no se aferra y entonces no pierde. Cuando la gente lanza sus proyectos, a menudo fracasa a punto de terminarlos. Si fueran tan cuidadosos al final como lo fueron al principio, no habr�a fracasos. Por lo tanto el sabio desea no desear, no atesora bienes dif�ciles de conseguir; aprende a no aprender, restaura las transgresiones de la gente. Ayudando en la espontaneidad de los diez mil seres, no osa actuar." -  Translated by �lex Ferrara , 2003, Cap�tulo 64  

"Las cosas pasivas son f�ciles de plasmar. Lo que no manifiesta malos indicios es f�cil de predecir. Lo que es fr�gil es f�cil de romper. Lo que es liviano es f�cil de dispersar. Haz los utensilios que a�n no se han hecho. Ordena las cosas antes que se hayan desordenado. Un �rbol que apenas se puede abrazar naci� de una min�scula ra�z. Una torre de nueve pisos naci� de un mont�culo de tierra. Un viaje de mil millas comenz� con un solo paso. El que mucho se agita en hacer algo, terminar� equivoc�ndose. El que se apega a algo terminar� perdi�ndolo. Por eso el hombre sabio no se agita por nada y nunca se equivoca, no se apega a nada y nada pierde. En sus negocios, el hombre vulgar siempre termina malogrando las cosas. Si cuidas el final como el comienzo, nada perder�s. Por lo tanto, el hombre sabio: Desea no desear. No da valor a las cosas dif�ciles de obtener. Aprender lo que no se puede aprender, es su doctrina. Ense�a al pueblo a volver sobre sus pasos. Ayuda a las cosas de acuerdo a su naturaleza y no hace nada para forzarlas." -  Translation from Logia Medio Dia , 2015, Tao Te Ching , Cap�tulo 64

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Chapter and Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching  

Tao Te Ching Commentary, Interpretations, Research Tools, Resources Chapter 64

Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse .  Complete versions of all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching by many different translators in many languages: 124 English, 24 German, 14 Russian, 7 Spanish, 5 French and many other languages.  Links are organized first by languages, and then alphabetically by translators.  Formatting varies somewhat.  The original website at Onekellotus went offline in 2012; but, the extensive collection of these Tao Te Ching versions was saved for posterity by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine and available as of 9/9/2015.  This is an outstanding original collection of versions of the Daodejing ─ the Best on the Internet.  Caution: copyright infringement may sometimes be an issue at this website. 

Tao Te Ching, Translations into English: Terebess Asia Online (TAO).  124 nicely formatted complete English language translations, on separate webpages, of the Daodejing .  Alphabetical index by translators.  Each webpage has all 81 chapters of the Tao Te Ching translated into English.  A useful collection!  Many reformatted and colored versions from the original collection at Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse .  Caution: copyright infringement may sometimes be an issue at this website. 

Daodejing by Laozi : Chapters with Chinese characters, seal script, detailed word by word concordance, Pinyin (tone#), German, French and English.  This is an outstanding resource for serious students of the Tao Te Ching . 

Tao Te Ching: A New Translation and Commentary .  By Ellen Chen.  Paragon House, 1998.  Detailed glossary, index, bibliography, notes, 274 pages. 

The Tao and Method: A Reasoned Approach to the Tao Te Ching .  By Michael Lafargue.  New York, SUNY Press, 1994.  640 pages.  Detailed index, bibliography, notes, and tables.  An essential research tool. 

Two Visions of the Way : A Study of the Wang Pi and the Ho-Shang Kung Commentaries on the Lao-Tzu.  By Professor by Alan Kam-Leung Chan.   SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture.  State University of New York Press, 1991.  Index, bibliography, glossary, notes, 314 pages.  ISBN: 0791404560.     

Chinese Reading of the Daodejing   Wang Bi's Commentary on the Laozi with Critical Text and Translation.  By Professor Rudolf G. Wagner.  A SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture.  English and Mandarin Chinese Edition.  State University of New York Press; Bilingual edition (October 2003).  540 pages.  ISBN: 978-0791451823.  Wang Bi (Wang Pi, Fusi) , 226-249 CE, Commentary on the Tao Te Ching.

Lao Tzu's Tao Teh Ching , A Parallel Translation Collection. Compiled by B. Boisen. 

Tao Te Ching: The Book of the Way .  Revised by Sam Torode based on the translation by Dwight Goddard, 1919. Independent Pub., 2009, 88 pages. 

Tao Te Ching: Annotated and Explained .  By Derek Lin.  Foreword by Lama Surya Das.  Skylight Illuminations, SkyLight Paths, 2006.  208 pages. 

Comparison and Analysis of Selected English Interpretations of the Tao Te Ching .  By Damian J. Bebell and Shannon M. Fera. 

Practicing the Tao Te Ching: 81 Steps on the Way .  By Solala Towler.  Foreword by Chunglang Al Huang.  Sounds True, 2016.  320 pages.

The Classic of the Way and Virtue: A New Translation of the Tao-te Ching of Laozi as Interpreted by Wang Bi.   Translated by Richard John Lynn.  Translations from the Asian Classics Series.  New York, Columbia University Press, 1999.  Extensive index, glossaries, notes, 244 pages. 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Pinyin Romanization, English and German by Dr. Hilmar Alquiros. 

Yellow Bridge Dao De Jing Comparison Table    Provides side by side comparisons of translations of the Tao Te Ching by James Legge, D. T. Suzuki, and Dwight Goddard.  Chinese characters for each paragraph in the Chapter are on the left; place your cursor over the Chinese characters to see the Pinyin Romanization of the Chinese character and a list of meanings. 

Translators Index , Tao Te Ching Versions in English, Translators Sorted Alphabetically by Translator, Links to Books and Online Versions of the Chapters 

Taoism and the Tao Te Ching : Bibliography, Resources, Links

Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching, Daodejing en Espa�ol , Translators Index 

Concordance to the Daodejing

Chapter 1 in the Rambling Taoist Commentaries by Trey Smith.  The Rambling Taoists are Trey Smith and Scott Bradley. 

Valley Spirit, Gu Shen , Concept, Chapter 6    Valley Spirit Center in Red Bluff, California.   Sacred Circle in the Gushen Grove. 

Thematic Index to the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching

Cloud Hands Blog    Mike Garofalo writes about Mind-Body Arts, Philosophy, Taoism, Gardening, Taijiquan, Walking, Mysticism, Qigong, and the Eight Ways.

Chapter 64 of the Dao De Jing by Laozi  Commentary, Study Aides, Resources, Related Thoughts, Reflections

"Precisely the least, the softest, lightest, a lizard's rustling, a breath, a flash, a moment - a little makes the way of the best happiness." -   Frederich Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathustra

Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching

Research and Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo

Green Way Research , Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks (2001-2020) East Los Angeles, California, 1946-1998; Red Bluff, California from 1998-2017; Vancouver, Washington from 2017-2020

Green Way Research, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 64, 2011-2020.  Compiled and Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo  

This webpage was last modified, edited, maintained, expanded, improved or updated on November 25, 2019.       This webpage was first distributed online on July 4, 2011.       

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Ripening Peaches: Daoist Studies and Practices

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Valley Spirit Qigong

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Months: Cycles of the Seasons

Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu, Zhuang Zhou, Master Chuang)  369�286 BCE

Chan (Zen) and Taoist Poetry

Yang Style Taijiquan

Chen Style Taijiquan

Taoist Perspectives: My Reading List

Bodymind Theory and Practices, Somaesthetics

The Five Senses

Grandmaster Chang San Feng

Qigong (Chi Kung) Health Practices

One Old Daoist Druid's Final Journey: Notebooks of the Librarian of Gushen Grove

Cloud Hands: T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

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Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching  

Introduction

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Index to English Language Translators of the Tao Te Ching

Thematic Index 1-81   

Chapter index 1-81     .

Recurring Themes (Terms, Concepts, Leimotifs) in the Tao Te Ching

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“A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With a Single Step” - Meaning and History

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the sheer distance between you and your goals? If so, the saying "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" can help you realize that you can start where you are with what you have.

This ancient Chinese proverb is profound in its simple explanation of how we can achieve great things. Let's take a deeper dive into this quote's meaning, history, and more.

“A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With a Single Step” – The Meaning

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” is a Chinese proverb that originates from the Tao te Ching . The meaning of this saying is that even the most difficult and longest ventures have a specific starting point. Similarly, it implies that daunting tasks can typically be begun by doing something very simple.

“We all carry the seeds of greatness within us, but we need an image as a point of focus in order that they may sprout.” – Epictetus

This is a very useful proverb to use in your own life when you’re faced with a challenge or working towards a goal that feels impossible. The reality is that all great accomplishments and victories are comprised of many smaller, more simple steps.

It’s impressive how profound the messages are in this short maxim. From these eleven words, we can extract the following:

• There is a starting point for even the longest and most difficult tasks
• Overwhelming tasks can be started by doing something simple
• Larger goals and challenges can be broken down into small steps
• If we want to achieve something, we can start today
• Procrastination only delays the process of taking small steps toward great things
• We can decide to begin doing something great today

For example, let’s say that you wanted to own the most successful landscaping business in your city. This might seem like a lofty goal if you’ve never so much as mowed a lawn. However, you can create a plan for yourself that is made up of many small steps and milestones. With hard work, diligence, and focus, you’ll find that you make steady progress toward your goal over time.

This expression doesn’t just apply to tangible, concrete goals, though. You can also use it when working on your own personal growth.

“Assemble your life… action by action. And be satisfied if each one achieves its goal… No one can keep that from happening…Action by action.” — Marcus Aurelius

Let’s say, for instance, that you’ve noticed that you constantly overthink things to the extent that it’s holding you back. When something is a deeply entrenched habit, you aren’t going to be able to break it overnight.

However, you might start by working on building self-awareness, so you become more conscious of your overthinking habit. From there, you might use specific techniques to escape overthinking, make decisions more quickly, and start taking action. As time goes on, you’ll find that you’ve traveled very far from your initial starting point of overthinking every little thing.

The History of the Quote

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” is found in Chapter 64 of the Tao te Ching , which is one of the fundamental texts for both religious and philosophical Taoism along with the Zhuangzi .

The author of this ancient text is regarded traditionally as Laozi. However, there has been much debate throughout history about the identity of the person or people that wrote and compiled this text. The Tao te Ching is sometimes referred to as the Laozi , particularly in Chinese sources, as ancient Chinese books were often referenced by the name of the author.

Laozi is considered to be the founder of both religious and philosophical Taoism and is a central figure in Chinese culture. Many Chinese religious movements have been profoundly influenced by the work of Laozi.

The traditional accounts of Laozi’s life state that he was born in the 6th century BC in the state of Chu. He worked for the Zhou court at Wangcheng as the royal archivist and even, on one occasion, met and impressed Confucius. It is said that he wrote the Tao te Ching before going off into the western wilderness.

In Chinese folk religions, Laozi is regarded as a god or a saint. During the Tang dynasty, he was worshipped as an imperial ancestor. There is much that is unknown about Laozi despite the fact that he is tremendously historically important.

Many scholars have questioned whether there ever was a historical Laozi at all. Whether or not the man himself ever really lived, there is no denying the tremendous influence that the Tao te Ching has had since it was written more than two thousand years ago.

Though we may never know the precise biography of Laozi or the author(s) of the Tao te Ching , there's no question about the impact of the text and Taoism as a whole on Chinese culture and the world at large.

Similar to Stoicism in some ways, Taoism is a philosophy that helps people understand how they can exist in harmony with the universe. The Tao (sometimes spelled "Dao") is a difficult-to-define concept that is sometimes understood to mean "the way of the universe."

Another primary idea in Taoism is the idea that there are balancing forces in the universe, which are known as yin and yang. These matching pairs (such as action and inaction, light and dark, and hot and cold) work in tandem to create a universal whole. These concepts, in part, illustrate the fact that nothing exists in a vacuum and everything is connected.

Taoism existed alongside Buddhism and Confucianism for many centuries until a number of major religions were banned in 1949.

Different Translations

Laozi’s Tao Te Ching is the most translated book in the entire world after the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita. There have been more than one hundred different translations into English alone, not to mention dozens of translations into French, German, Dutch, Italian, Latin, and more.

Written in Classical Chinese, the Tao te Ching is a notably difficult text to comprehend and translate. The notable twentieth-century scholar on modern Chinese religions, Holmes Welch, noted that the written Classical Chinese lacked the following:

• Active or passive
• Singular or plural

There are also many grammatical particles missing in the text, which typically make it possible for comprehension and translation to be more precise. On top of that, many of the passages are deliberately ambiguous and vague.

To make things more complicated, there also aren’t any punctuation marks in Classical Chinese. As you might imagine, this makes it hard to determine with certainty the start and end of any given sentence.

Given all of these considerations, it’s worth looking at some of the different translations of this particular saying within its context in Chapter 64 of the Tao te Ching :

The giant pine tree grows from a tiny sprout. The journey of a thousand miles starts from beneath your feet.  – Translated by Stephen Mitchell A tree you can barely get your arms around grows from a tiny shoot A nine-story tower begins as a heap of earth A thousand mile journey begins under your feet. – Translated by Michael LaFargue A tree as big as a man’s embrace springs from a tiny sprout. A tower nine stories high begins with a heap of earth. A journey of a thousand leagues starts where your feet stand. – Translated by Wu A tree broader than a man's embrace grows from a tiny seedling. The tallest tower starts from a clod of earth. The longest journey begins with the first step. – Translated by Han Hiong Tan By closing the door, the entry is not possible, A big tree was in its beginning a tiny offshoot, Thus a great expedition starts with a little step.  – Translated by Sarbatoare A tree that fills the arms' embrace is born from a downy shoot; A terrace nine layers high starts from a basketful of earth; An ascent of a hundred strides begins beneath one's foot. – Translated by Victor H. Mair A tower of nine levels Starts from the dirt heap A journey of a thousand miles Begins beneath the feet – Translated by Derek Linn A massive tree grows from a little sprout.  A nine-story building rises from a clod of earth. A thousand fathoms begin with a single step. – Translated by Edward Brennan and Tao Huang A tree that can fill the span of a man’s arms Grows from a downy tip; A terrace nine storey’s high Rises from hodfuls of earth; A journey of a thousand miles Starts from beneath one’s feet. – Translated by D.C. Lau A tree as a big as a man’s embrace grows from a tiny shoot. A tower of nine storeys begins with a heap of earth. The journey of a thousand li starts from where one stands. – Translated by Wing-tsit Chan A tree so big that it takes both arms to surround starts out as the tiniest shoot; A nine-story terrace rises up from a basket of dirt. A high place one hundred, one thousand feet high begins from under your feet. – Translated by Robert Henricks A tree with a full span’s girth begins from a tiny sprout; A nine-storied terrace begins with a clod of earth. A journey of a thousand li begins at one’s feet. – Translated by Yutang Lin The most massive tree grows from a sprout; The highest building rises from a pile of earth; A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.

– Translated by Thomas Cleary

As you can see, some of these passages use the word li in describing the length of the journey. The li is a traditional Chinese unit of distance and is also known as the Chinese mile. Precisely how far a li is has varied quite a bit over time. Generally, though, it used to be about one-third of an English mile and is now standardized as a half-kilometer.

Stoicism and the Tao te Ching

There are a number of notable similarities between the Tao te Ching and the philosophy of Stoicism . These include the importance of virtue, the idea that fear is created in the mind and not by external events, and the reality that adversity helps you to grow .

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” – Epictetus

Let's dig into some of the major overlaps between these two schools of thought.

Understanding What’s In One’s Control

In the Tao te Ching , the author expresses that the wise person is able to look reality squarely in the eye without trying to exert control over it.

The Master sees things as they are, without trying to control them. She lets them go their own way, and resides at the center of the circle. – Laozi

Stoicism similarly posits that we must understand and accept the things that are outside of our control. Beyond that, we can even strive to embrace the way that things happen, even if it seems like the universe has turned against us. Through amor fati , we can see the bigger picture and recognize that all things that happen are, if not good, at least necessary.

Observe Yourself

When paging through the Tao te Ching , you'll likely notice the similarity that both Taoism and Stoicism ask you to watch yourself carefully.

“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.”  – Laozi

Both of these schools of thought ask us to focus on our own actions rather than attaching ourselves to specific outcomes. They ask us to overcome ourselves and conquer ourselves.

Doing What Is Best For the Hive

Both Stoicism and Taoism emphasize the importance of the collective good. At the same time, they approach achieving what is best for humanity through the improvement of each individual.

It's easy to look at the world and see that things could be better. It's easy to run around blaming just about everyone for the state of things. The truth is, though, that you can't change other people by telling them how they should be. All you can do is work to improve yourself, and perhaps then you'll find that other people are changing by the nature of your example.

Relationship With Nature

Both Stoicism and Taoism propose that being a virtuous person means acting in accordance with nature.

“Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive. It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao. In dwelling, be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart. In dealing with others, be gentle and kind. In speech, be true. In ruling, be just. In business, be competent. In action, watch the timing. No fight: No blame.” – Laozi

Even though Taoism and Stoicism both advocate for a return to nature of sorts, this doesn't mean that they were calling for people to run off into the woods to live as hermits. They both share the idea that it's possible for living in accordance with nature to coexist with life in society.

Letting Go of What Others Think of You

If we're not careful, it's easy to let what other people think of us control who we are and what we do. Instead of being directed by the opinions of others, we can turn inward and try to access our inner resources and personal purposes.

“When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you.”

Both Taoism and Stoicism point toward the necessity of not being driven by a desire for reputation, fame, or approval. In the above quote from the Tao te Ching , Laozi reminds us of the odd truth that the way actually to gain people's respect is to be content as yourself without the need for the approval of others.

“Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it.” – Marcus Aurelius

Powerful Quotes From the Tao Te Ching

Despite the fact that the Tao te Ching was written thousands of years ago, you'll find that the words of this text are surprisingly relevant to your own life. The timeless wisdom found in this book is something that you can return to over and over again in different seasons of your life.

For this reason, we included the Tao te Ching on our list of 21 books that will change the way you think . If you're ready to revolutionize your life with new ideas and knowledge, this list is a great jumping-off point.

“A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.” – Laozi “Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.” – Laozi “If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.” – Laozi “To understand the limitation of things, desire them.” – Laozi “Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.” – Laozi “The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.” – Laozi “If you understand others you are smart. If you understand yourself you are illuminated. If you overcome others you are powerful. If you overcome yourself you have strength. If you know how to be satisfied you are rich. If you can act with vigor, you have a will. If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting. If you die without loss, you are eternal.” “The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.” – Laozi “A leader is best When people barely know he exists Of a good leader, who talks little, When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, They will say, “We did this ourselves.” – Laozi “The wise man is one who, knows, what he does not know.” – Laozi “If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.” – Laozi “The further one goes, the less one knows.” – Laozi “When there is no desire, all things are at peace.” – Laozi “Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity.” – Laozi “When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad.” – Laozi “Trying to understand is like straining through muddy water. Have the patience to wait! Be still and allow the mud to settle.” – Laozi “A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants. A good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is.” – Laozi “What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? What is a bad man but a good man's job? If you don't understand this, you will get lost, however intelligent you are. It is the great secret.”  – Laozi “Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear.” – Laozi “True words aren't eloquent; eloquent words aren't true. Wise men don't need to prove their point; men who need to prove their point aren't wise.” – Laozi “The Master has no possessions. The more he does for others, the happier he is. The more he gives to others, the wealthier he is.”  – Laozi “My teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning? If you want to know me, Look inside your heart.”  – Laozi “Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.”  “He who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn't go far. He who tries to shine dims his own light. He who defines himself can't know who he really is. He who has power over others can't empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures. If you want to accord with the Tao, just do your job, then let go.” – Laozi “To bear and not to own; to act and not lay claim; to do the work and let it go: for just letting it go is what makes it stay.” – Laozi “Not-knowing is true knowledge. Presuming to know is a disease. First realize that you are sick; then you can move toward health.” – Laozi “A great nation is like a great man: When he makes a mistake, he realizes it. Having realized it, he admits it. Having admitted it, he corrects it. He considers those who point out his faults as his most benevolent teachers. He thinks of his enemy as the shadow that he himself casts.” – Laozi “Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame. Therefore the Master fulfills her own obligations and corrects her own mistakes. She does what she needs to do and demands nothing of others.” – Laozi “If good happens, good; if bad happens, good. ” – Laozi “The heart that gives, gathers.” – Laozi “The road you can talk about is not the road you can walk on.” – Laozi “True perfection seems imperfect, yet it is perfectly itself. True fullness seems empty, yet it is fully present. True straightness seems crooked. True wisdom seems foolish. True art seems artless.” – Laozi “Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it. – Laozi The soft overcomes the hard; the gentle overcomes the rigid. Everyone knows that is true, but few can put it into practice.” – Laozi

Quotes With a Similar Message

While "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" is a succinct and powerful way to describe the fact that even large undertakings start with small tasks, many other thinkers throughout history have discussed the same phenomenon.

“Now is the time to get serious about living your ideals... How long can you afford to put off who you really want to be? Your nobler self cannot wait any longer.” – Epictetus

Let's look at a few other quotes from people about starting where you are and working toward your goals.

“It’s not that we have little time, but more that we waste a good deal of it.” – Seneca the Younger “Putting things off is the biggest waste of life: it snatches away each day as it comes, and denies us the present by promising the future. The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what lies in Fortune’s control, and abandoning what lies in yours. What are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately. ” – Seneca the Younger “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh “Don't wait. The time will never be just right.” – Napoleon Hill “It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward.” – Old Chinese Proverb “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” – Theodore Roosevelt “Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” – Chinese Proverb “You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson “The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Chinese Proverb “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small, manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” – Mark Twain “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney "All big things come from small beginnings.The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.” – James Clear "Do what you can, with what you've got, where you are." – Squire Bill Widener

Final Thoughts on 'A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With a Single Step'

This quote from the Tao te Ching is something that you can return to over and over again.

If you are struggling to find the motivation to work toward a goal, you can remind yourself that even the longest journeys consist of small steps and begin where a person is standing.

If you feel like the obstacles in front of you are too much for you to overcome, you can find some solace in the reality that all giant projects can be broken down into smaller, manageable tasks.

You can apply this proverb to your professional life and to your personal life. It is just as useful when you want to write a novel as it is when you want to quit drinking. You'll find it just as powerful when you want to climb a literal mountain as when you want to actively work to overcome anxiety and depression .

It's important to remember that, in life, good things take time. Becoming the person you want to be isn't going to happen every night. Work on making progress every day , and you'll be surprised where you find yourself in just a few months' time.

Are you searching for more insight and inspiration to help you live a better life? Make sure you check out our Stoic Quotes blog.

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a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

• 1.1 Alternative forms
• 1.2 Etymology
• 1.3 Pronunciation
• 1.4.1 Synonyms
• 1.4.2 Translations

English [ edit ]

Alternative forms [ edit ].

• a journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step
• a thousand-mile journey begins with the first step

Etymology [ edit ]

Calque of Chinese 千里之行，始於足下 ( qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐyú zú xià ), quoted by the Chinese philosopher Laozi in the Tao Te Ching . This quote is sometimes erroneously attributed to Laozi's contemporary , Confucius , who is the founder of Confucianism , or to the Japanese.

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Proverb [ edit ].

• 2020 , Malcolm Turnbull , The Reluctant Republic , Hardie Grant Publishing, →ISBN : It has often been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step . We have made many steps in our journey towards the republic, and perhaps are closer to our destination than we imagine.
• 1989 , Stephen Covey , The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , Free Press, →ISBN : “ A thousand-mile journey begins with the first step ” and can only be taken one step at a time. If you don't let a teacher know at what level you are—by asking a question, or revealing your ignorance—you will not learn or grow.
• 1981 , Robert Leland Youngs, Forest products research needs and prospects (thinking globally, acting locally) , Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: The problems are great--but this means that the opportunities are also great. In this situation it is well to remember the ancient wise words of Lao Tzu " A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step ."

Synonyms [ edit ]

• take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves
• many a mickle makes a muckle
• every little helps
• little and often fills the purse

Translations [ edit ]

• English terms calqued from Chinese
• English terms derived from Chinese
• English terms with audio links
• English lemmas
• English proverbs
• English multiword terms
• English terms with quotations
• English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys
• English entries with language name categories using raw markup
• Arabic terms with non-redundant manual transliterations
• Cantonese terms with redundant transliterations
• Mandarin terms with non-redundant manual transliterations
• Hebrew terms with redundant script codes
• Hindi terms with redundant script codes
• Serbo-Croatian terms with redundant script codes

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Lao Tzu: 'Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.'

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the tasks ahead of us. However, the profound words of Lao Tzu remind us of the importance of taking prompt action and seizing opportunities while they are still within our reach. "Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." This simple yet poignant quote encapsulates the essence of perseverance, strategy, and the power of starting small.At its core, this quote encourages us to tackle challenging tasks early on, rather than postponing them until they become insurmountable. It teaches us the wisdom of breaking down overwhelming objectives into smaller, manageable steps. By addressing difficulties while they are still relatively easy, we not only increase our chances of success but also develop a sense of confidence and self-belief.The significance of Lao Tzu's words extends beyond the realm of productivity and goal attainment; it holds a deeper philosophical truth. Taking into consideration an unexpected concept, let's explore the idea of Taoism here. Taoism is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with the Tao, an entity that cannot be comprehended or expressed in words. In the context of Lao Tzu's quote, we can interpret the "difficult things" as obstacles and challenges in life, while the "great things" represent our ultimate purpose or destiny.While it may seem paradoxical, Taoism teaches that true greatness lies in embracing simplicity and humility. By undertaking difficult tasks while they are still easy, we align ourselves with the Tao's principles, gracefully navigating life's ups and downs. We learn to appreciate the value of small actions, recognizing that they lay the foundation for extraordinary achievements.In contrast to the common belief that greatness is achieved by grand gestures or instant success, Lao Tzu invites us to consider a different perspective. By emphasizing the importance of starting small and taking that single step, he reminds us that even the most significant journeys are a compilation of individual moments of courage and perseverance.When we dive deeper into the philosophy behind this quote, we realize that it encourages a shift in mindset. Instead of fixating on the overwhelming task at hand, we learn to focus on each present moment. By breaking down a journey of a thousand miles into that single step, we gain a new sense of appreciation for the process itself. We are reminded that each step has value – it is not simply a means to an end but a testament to our growth, resilience, and determination.In a culture that often glorifies overnight success and instant gratification, Lao Tzu's words offer solace and guidance. They remind us that the path to greatness is not linear or straightforward but rather a series of small steps, each contributing to the whole. By embracing this philosophy and adopting a mindset rooted in mindfulness and patience, we can navigate the challenges of life with grace and resilience.Ultimately, Lao Tzu's quote serves as a reminder of the importance of starting, even when the magnitude of the task ahead seems overwhelming. It urges us to embrace the simplicity and power of small actions, recognizing that they lay the groundwork for greatness. So, let us heed these words and embark on our own journeys, one step at a time, knowing that with each step, we are inching closer to our aspirations and becoming the best versions of ourselves.

Lao Tzu: 'Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.'

Lao tzu: 'kindness in words creates confidence. kindness in thinking creates profoundness. kindness in giving creates love.'.

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A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step: Daily Goal Planner and Habit Tracker Notebook Paperback – Notebook, March 14, 2019

Great habit tracker for goal setting | easy to use goal management.

If you're looking for a gift to help with goals for or are searching for a great tool to improve your life, you'll love the A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step Daily Goal Planner Habit Tracker Notebook . Are there days you could be more motivated? Do you want to be more effective or more organized with your goals and time? Planning journals and habit trackers are quick and easy way to do this and more. Stop and think about how much more you can get out of life and start building a better future now with the A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step Daily Goal Planner Habit Tracker Notebook now and take your training to the next level!

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What Really Matters? Stop limiting your results and start on a path of better future, improved health, and more enjoyment in life now with the A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step Daily Goal Planner Habit Tracker Notebook . Think about the importance of your birth certificate, property deeds, or even the laws that govern our society...the stuff that really matters goes onto paper. This includes your habits and goals. Buy the A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step Daily Goal Planner Habit Tracker Notebook today, and see how far you can go!

• Print length 110 pages
• Language English
• Publication date March 14, 2019
• Dimensions 7 x 0.28 x 10 inches
• ISBN-10 1090460430
• ISBN-13 978-1090460431
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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (March 14, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 110 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1090460430
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1090460431
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.28 x 10 inches

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Lao Tzu – The Journey Of A Thousand Miles

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” This famous quote, attributed to the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu , has long been a source of motivation and inspiration for people embarking on new endeavors. 

Whether it’s starting a new job, launching a business, or pursuing a personal goal, the quote reminds us that no journey is too long or too difficult when we break it down into small, manageable steps. It’s a powerful reminder that even the most daunting of tasks can be accomplished when we take that first step and begin our journey.

We will take a closer look at the meaning and significance of this quote, and explore how it can be applied to our daily lives. We will analyze the quote in-depth and offer personal anecdotes and examples to illustrate its relevance in the real world.

The meaning of the quote “The Journey Of A Thousand Miles”

The quote “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” is a simple yet powerful statement. It reminds us that even the longest and most challenging journeys start with a single step. It encourages us to take that first step, to start the journey, no matter how daunting the task may seem.

The quote is also a reminder that even small steps are progressing. Every step we take brings us closer to our destination and every step is a victory in itself. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the enormity of a goal, but by focusing on taking one step at a time, we can break the task down into manageable chunks and make steady progress.

The quote implies that the journey is important, not the destination. The journey itself is a learning experience, a process of growth and development, and the destination is only the final outcome. By enjoying the journey and learning from it, we can achieve a deeper sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.

Additionally, the quote can be interpreted as an encouragement for self-reliance, as it implies that the individual has the power and capability to take the first step and start the journey by themselves.

The relevance of this quote in real-life

To illustrate the relevance of this quote in real-life, you can use personal anecdotes or examples. For instance, you could mention how you started a new business and how you took the first step and kept moving forward, one step at a time.

Or you could share the story of a friend who decided to run a marathon, and how he broke it down into small, manageable training sessions, to reach his goal .

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” is a quote that reminds us of the importance of taking action, breaking down goals into manageable steps, and enjoying the journey. It’s a powerful reminder that we all have the capability to take that first step and that every step we take is progress.

We have explored the quote “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” attributed to Lao Tzu , and discussed its meaning and significance. We have analyzed the quote in-depth and provided personal anecdotes and examples to illustrate its relevance in the real world.

As we’ve seen, the quote serves as a powerful reminder that no journey is too long or too difficult when we break it down into small, manageable steps. It encourages us to take that first step, to start the journey, no matter how daunting the task may seem. It’s a reminder that even small steps progress, and that the journey is just as important as the destination.

We hope this post has been informative and inspiring, and that you will take the message of this quote to heart. We encourage you to share this post with your friends and family and leave a comment with your thoughts on the quote. Remember, the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, and you are capable of taking it.

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A JOURNEY of a thousand miles begins with a single step  

Attributed to Lao‐tzu ( c 604– c 531 bc ), founder of Taoism. □ 1904 Sayings of Lao Tzu tr. ...

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Lao Tzu > Quotes > Quotable Quote

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

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