journey starts 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.

Even the longest journey starts with a single step (quotes)

The longest journey starts with a single step.

• Every journey begins with a single step. Maya Angelou
• The longest journey begins with a single step. Patanjali
• The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Laozi
• The greatest journeys all start with a single step. Bear Grylls
• Every step begins a journey, and this one is for us. Erin Hunter
• Every Journey, no matter how far, starts with one step. Eric Walters
• Every adventure requires a first step. Trite but true, even here. American McGee
• Your journey begins with a choice to get up, step out, and live fully. Oprah Winfrey
• What people forget is a journey to nowhere starts with a single step, too. Chuck Palahniuk
• The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Watch your step. Thomas S. Monson
• The journey starts with a single step—not with thinking about taking a step. Jeff Olson
• Hope puts up with modest gains, realizing that the longest journey starts with one step. James Keller
• How to begin the journey? You need only to take the first step. When? There is always now. George Leonard
• According to the ancient Chinese proverb, A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. John F. Kennedy
• A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step and if that step is the right step, it becomes the last step. Laozi
• Your outer journey may contain a million steps; your inner journey only has one: the step you are taking right now. Eckhart Tolle
• The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. So we must never neglect any work of peace within our reach, however small. Adlai E. Stevenson
• To take a journey of a thousand miles, you have to begin with the first step from the place where you stand; the romantic description of the journey and the things the body sees on the way and the description of the scenery are of no use unless you lift your foot and take the first step. Vimala Thakar
• Here is an old Oriental proverb: A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. It is difficult to anticipate just how a situation will develop in every detail until you take a step forward and try out your present equipment. Then, if weaknesses appear, you will have clues as to how to strengthen your resources. No scheme or plan is perfect. Perfection is a process, not an end. Napoleon Hill

The first step is the hardest

• The first step is the hardest. Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond
• On this path, it is only the first step that counts. John Vianney
• The first step of a journey is always the longest. Richard Paul Evans
• And like my dad always said, the first step is always the hardest. Sarah Dessen
• The first step is the hardest. Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand
• The hardest step for a runner to take is the first one out the door. Ron Clarke
• The first step is the hardest – making a commitment to yourself, for yourself. Mary Kay Ash
• You have traveled far, but the hardest part of a journey is always the next step. Jackie Morris
• The most difficult part of any endeavour is taking the first step, making the first decision. Robyn Davidson
• The hardest part is starting. Once you get that out of the way, you’ll find the rest of the journey much easier. Simon Sinek
• I think this is the start of something really big. Sometimes that first step is the hardest one, and we’ve just taken it. Steve Jobs
• First steps are always the hardest but until they are taken the notion of progress remains only a notion and not an achievement. Aberjhani
• You must take the first step. The first steps will take some effort, maybe pain. But after that, everything that has to be done is real-life movement. Ben Stein
• Sometimes the first step is the hardest: coming up with an idea. Coming up with an idea should be like sitting on a pin-it should make you jump up and do something. Kemmons Wilson
• That step, the heroic first step of the journey, is out of, or over the edge of, your boundaries, and it often must be taken before you know that you will. Joseph Campbell
• Fret not where the road will take you. Instead concentrate on the first step. That’s the hardest part and that’s what you are responsible for. Once you take that step let everything do what it naturally does and the rest will follow. Do not go with the flow. Be the flow. Elif Safak
• It is always the first and last steps that are the hardest to take. We walk away and try not to turn back, or we stand just outside the gates, terrified to find what’s waiting for us now that we’ve returned. In between, we stumble blindly from one place and life to the next. We try to do the best we can. There are moments like this, however, when we are neither coming nor going, and all we have to do is sit and look back on the life we have made. Dinaw Mengestu
• To change the world It starts with one step However small First step is hardest of all. Dave Matthews

The first step is the most important

• The first step is the most important. It is the most crucial and the most effective as it will initiate the direction you have chosen. Steve Backley
• The most important step of all is the first step. Start something. Blake Mycoskie
• The ending is the beginning, and the beginning is the first step, and the first step is the only step. Jiddu Krishnamurti
• The act of taking the first step is what separates the winners from the losers. Brian Tracy
• In a single step the whole journey is contained. Rajneesh

The first step is the longest

• The longest journey begins with a single step, not with the turn of an ignition key. That’s the best thing about walking, the journey itself. It doesn’t much matter whether you get where you’re going or not. You’ll get there anyway. Every good hike brings you eventually back home. Right where you started. Edward Abbey

Take the first step in faith with a sense of hope and belief

• For everyone, well-being is a journey. The secret is committing to that journey and taking those first steps with hope and belief in yourself. Deepak Chopra
• Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• I’ve discovered that if I don’t take the first step, God generally won’t reveal the next step. Mark Batterson

Once the first step is taken, keep taking steps

• A journey of a thousand miles continues with the second step. Larry Wall
• When you arrive where you thought you wanted to be, you’ll just begin a new journey so enjoy each step along the way. Wayne Dyer
• With the first step, the number of shapes the walk might take is infinite, but then the walk begins to define itself as it goes along, though freedom remains total with each step: any tempting side road can be turned into an impulse, or any wild patch of woods can be explored. The pattern of the walk is to come true, is to be recognized, discovered. R. Ammons
• My journey has been a very slow build-up. Each year has been a step upward. I’ve never actually gone backward. Vijay Singh
• For every two steps forward, there is one step back. Don’t let that discourage you, because you can play a big part in ensuring that measurable change takes place in the coming decade. Jack Norris
• We will never make a journey of a thousand miles by fretting about how long it will take or how hard it will be. We make the journey by taking each day step by step and then repeating it again and again until we reach our destination. Joseph B. Wirthlin
• I have come to understand that that is what life is all about-a journey and the courage and energy always to take the next step and the next without judgement about what was right and what was wrong. Mary Balogh

Every step is a first step

• Every step is a first step if it’s a step in the right direction. Terry Pratchett

The journey must be taken one step at a time

• Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time. Lyndon B. Johnson
• No matter how long your journey appears to be, there is never more than this: one step, one breath, one moment… Now. Eckhart Tolle
• Allow yourself to experience fully every step of the journey, both the joy and the pain. You’re alive. Greet the moment at hand with a grateful heart. Eleanor Brown
• Process transforms any journey into a series of small steps, taken one by one, to reach any goal. Process transcends time, teaches patience, rests on a solid foundation of careful preparation, and embodies trust in our unfolding potential. Dan Millman

Savour each step

• Life is not a race, but a journey to be savoured each step of the way. Brian Dyson
• The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is. Eckhart Tolle
• Were all on a golden journey-every one of us. A journey inspired by golden dreams, and at the end awaits a golden crown of righteousness….please remember that every step is to be cherished. Every single one. Chris Heimerdinger

Find the journey’s end in every step

• To finish the moment, to find the journey’s end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom. Ralph Waldo Emerson

On a lighter note

• The journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance. Alton Brown

Lao Tzu: 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.'

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

The quote by Lao Tzu, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step," encapsulates an essential and profound truth about life and achieving our goals. It emphasizes the significance of taking that initial step, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, as it is the catalyst that sets us on our path toward progress and transformation.At first glance, the meaning of this quote is straightforward. It suggests that any monumental endeavor, no matter how intimidating or daunting it may seem, must start with a single action. It reminds us that great achievements are not made overnight but rather through a series of consistent and deliberate actions taken over time. This quote serves as a reminder that every long and arduous journey is comprised of numerous small steps, each contributing to our overall progress.However, to truly delve into the depth of this quote, we can introduce an unexpected philosophical concept: the idea of the interconnectedness of all things. Building upon Lao Tzu's wisdom, we can explore the notion that our initial step not only sets us on our individual journey but also initiates a ripple effect, influencing the world around us.Imagine for a moment, the act of taking the first step is like dropping a pebble into a still pond. As the pebble breaks the surface of the water, it creates ripples that extend outward in ever-widening circles. Similarly, when we take that first step towards achieving our dreams, we create a ripple effect that can reach far beyond our immediate sphere of influence.For instance, consider the story of a young artist who decides to take that initial step and display their work publicly for the first time. Though they may feel small and insignificant in the grand scheme of the art world, their act of courage and vulnerability inspires someone who views their work. That person, in turn, becomes motivated to pursue their own creative endeavors, sparking a chain reaction of inspiration and creative expression.Moreover, the idea of interconnectedness can also be applied to personal growth and our impact on others. Volunteering our time or lending a helping hand to someone in need may seem like a small gesture, but its effects can be profound. By taking that single step, we not only make a positive difference in the lives of others but also cultivate a greater sense of compassion and empathy within ourselves.In essence, Lao Tzu's quote reminds us that no action is inconsequential. Every step we take holds the potential to create a ripple effect, both within ourselves and the world around us. It encourages us to be mindful of the choices we make and to recognize the power and significance of even the smallest actions.The concept of interconnectedness challenges us to acknowledge the immense influence our actions can have on the trajectory of our lives and the lives of those around us. It invites us to consider the profound interconnectedness that exists between individuals, communities, and the world as a whole.In conclusion, Lao Tzu's quote, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step," serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of initiating action and the power of individual choices. It reminds us that even the smallest step can start a journey of transformation and have a profound impact on our lives and the lives of others.By introducing the concept of interconnectedness, we are reminded of the ripple effect our actions can create. This philosophical idea adds a layer of depth and complexity to the quote, stimulating contemplation about the interconnected nature of our world and encouraging us to recognize the far-reaching consequences of our actions. So, let us remember to be mindful of the steps we take and the effects they may have - for the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, and that step can change the world.

Lao Tzu: 'Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.'

Thomas jefferson: 'whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.'.

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.

Related Posts

Health is wealth: proverb meaning and expansion of idea, honesty is the best policy: proverb meaning and expansion of idea, practice makes a man perfect: proverb meaning and expansion of idea, knowledge is power – proverb meaning and expansion of idea, prevention is better than cure – proverb meaning and expansion of idea, time and tide wait for none – proverb meaning and expansion of idea, work is worship – proverb meaning and expansion of idea, god helps those who help themselves – proverb meaning and expansion of idea, where there is a will there is a way – proverb meaning and expansion of idea.

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”.

Related posts:

• Charity Begins At Home
• A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
• Miles to Go Before I Sleep
• All That Glitters is Not Gold
• A Bird in the Hand
• A Diamond in the Rough
• A Diamond Is Forever
• A Friend in Need
• A Penny for Your Thoughts
• A Man Who Is His Own Lawyer Has A Fool for a Client
• Achilles Heel
• Agree to Disagree
• A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
• Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
• Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely
• Arms Akimbo
• Another Think Coming
• A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss
• All’s Well That Ends Well
• All Greek To Me
• A Sight for Sore Eyes
• As Snug As a Bug
• As Straight As a Die
• As The Crow Flies
• Away With The Fairies
• Baby Father
• Back Seat Driver
• Bane of Your Life
• Batten Down the Hatches
• Bee In Your Bonnet
• Barrel of Laughs
• Bell the Cat
• Bells and Whistles
• Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts
• Blind Man’s Buff
• Blood, Sweat and Tears
• Blown to Smithereens
• Bob’s Your Uncle
• Been There, Done That
• Bought The Farm
• Beggar Belief
• Bury The Hatchet
• Brownie Points
• Call A Spade A Spade
• Carry Coals To Newcastle
• By The Board
• By The Short Hairs
• Stick in the Mud
• Chinese Whispers
• Chock A Block
• Clod Hopper
• ‎Close Quarters
• Cloud Cuckoo Land
• The Bitter End
• Cold Turkey
• Wish You Were Here
• Comparisons Are Odious
• Common Sense
• The Weakest Link
• Tongue in Cheek
• Tooth and Nail
• Cook The Books
• We are not Amused
• Your Name is Mud
• Cool Britannia
• Country Bumpkin
• Crime Doesn’t Pay
• Touch and Go
• Two Heads are Better than One
• Willy-nilly
• Win Hands Down
• Wreak Havoc
• Cut the Mustard
• Cut To The Chase
• Dead Cat Bounce
• Dead Ringer
• Death And Taxes
• Tempest in a Teapot
• The Cat’s Pajamas
• Dollars To Donuts
• Different Strokes For Different Folks
• Don’t Go There
• Don’t Keep A Dog And Bark Yourself

Post navigation

• Epictetus Quotes
• Marcus Aurelius Quotes
• Seneca Quotes
• Zeno Quotes

“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.

We encourage you to share this article on Twitter and Facebook . Just click those two links - you'll see why.

It's important to share the news to spread the truth. Most people won't.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related Articles

Marcus Aurelius Quotes: 19+ Best Quotes from the Stoic Emperor

Cleanthes Quotes: The Best Quotes from the Stoic Philosopher

45 Stoic Quotes on Anxiety and Worry

45 Stoic Quotes on Control

63 Stoic Quotes on Death

53 Stoic Quotes on Hard Work

61 Stoic Quotes on Change

50 Stoic Quotes on Wisdom

60 Stoic Quotes on Hardship

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

Navigation menu

Best quotes every journey begins with a single step

Home » Quotes » Best quotes every journey begins with a single step

Embarking on a new journey can be both exciting and intimidating. Whether it’s starting a new career, pursuing a passion, or making a life-changing decision, taking that first step is crucial. It is during this initial leap of faith that we often need a little encouragement and inspiration to keep us going. That’s where quotes come in. Quotes have the power to motivate us, remind us of our potential, and give us the confidence to begin our journey. In this article, we have gathered a collection of quotes that emphasize the importance of taking that first step to embark on a new adventure.

Every successful person started somewhere, and they all had to take that first step towards their goals. These quotes serve as a reminder that every journey, no matter how big or small, begins with a single step. So, let these words of wisdom inspire you to take that leap of faith and start your own incredible journey. Remember, the first step is often the hardest, but it is also the most important.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the world of quotes that remind us that every journey begins with a single step.

Read these quotes: Every Journey Begins with a Single Step

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

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs

“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” – Albert Schweitzer

“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” – Oprah Winfrey

“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” – Tony Robbins

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar

“The starting point of all achievement is desire.” – Napoleon Hill

“Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” – Roy T. Bennett

“Dream big and dare to fail.” – Norman Vaughan

“The journey to a thousand miles begins with one step in the right direction.” – Shannon L. Alder

These quotes are just a small sample of the countless inspirational words that remind us that every journey begins with a single step. So, whenever you find yourself hesitating or doubting, remember these powerful quotes and take that first step. Your journey awaits!

Related Post:

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Best step brothers interview quotes

Best water cycle quiz questions

Best step brothers catalina wine mixer quotes

Best water cooler questions

Best wastewater treatment questions and answers

Best stella adler quotes

© the narratologist 2024

The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with One Step

The title of this article is based on the words of Lao Tzu, who said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

This is true not only for a long journey of thousands of miles but also for a short one. In this article, I am not referring to actual journeys or trips but to goals, tasks, and actions. I am referring to everything that requires you to take the first step.

Even the simple action of drinking water from the tap requires walking to the kitchen, opening the tap, and filling the glass with water. If taking the first step is essential for such a simple act of filling a glass with water, it is also vital for achieving any goal, small or big.

If you wait for things to happen, they will probably never happen. You have to take the initiative and act. You need to take the first step, and then the other steps will follow.

Take the First Step

• Do you wish to use creative visualization and manifestation to achieve your goals and improve your life? You need to start visualizing. This is the first practical step.
• Do you want to change a certain habit? You have to take action.
• Are you interested in learning meditation and making it a part of your life? If so, you need to learn to meditate. Without this step, you will get nowhere.
• Do you need a job? You have to start looking for it.
• Do you want to be rich? You have to start making plans and carry them out.
• Are you keen on achieving success in sports? You need to train your body.
• Do you want to own a business? You need to take the proper steps.

Waiting and doing nothing will not create success or help you achieve your goals, tasks, or chores. You need to act. You need to move toward your goal and not wait for the right time, the right circumstances, or the right mood.

To change your reality, you must change your thoughts. Learn how your thoughts and visualization can create the reality you want. Manifest and Achieve Whatever You Want

A Journey of a Thousand Miles vs Taking Just a Few Steps

A journey of a thousand miles or one of just a short distance requires taking the first step.

Often, laziness and inner resistance prevent you from taking the first step. Once you take one step in the direction of your goal, the second step will follow. However, you have to take the first one.

You need to start carrying out what you want or need to do, whether it is sweeping the floor, going to the store to buy milk or bread, learning a new language, finding a new job, starting a business, or becoming a writer. The first step is always important.

Once you make the first step, you gain confidence and your motivation to succeed will grow. It would then be easier to overcome laziness and inner resistance.

It is pleasant to daydream, but to make your daydreams come true, you have to start walking in their direction. You have to take action.

You have to take the first step, and then the second, the third, and all the steps that separate you from your goal. This is valid for every goal, small or big, relating to your job, health, finance, self improvement or spirituality.

Remember the words of Lao Tzu, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”, and act accordingly. Also, remember that not only a long journey begins with one step, the first step, but also a short one too.

Recommended reading: Lao Tzu Quotes

Learn How to Focus Your Attention

About the Author

Join him on a fabulous journey to self-improvement, success, positivity, inner peace, and meditation through his website, articles, and books .

Follow on: Facebook    Twitter    Pinterest    Instagram    Linkedin

Privacy Overview

• United Kingdom

Resources and Inspiration

the journey of a thousand miles starts with

a single step

Hello! I’m Ryan Maley, a 30-year-old Mancunian with an insatiable desire to travel the world.

I’m a passionate advocate for responsible and inclusive travel, and I truly believe that travel makes us more well-rounded and culturally intelligent. With a deep-rooted love for exploring diverse cultures and their profound impact on the destinations we visit today, I hope to inspire others to explore responsibly and respectfully as I share travels from around the world.

The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. 

Read more → 

explore destinations

Your Guide to Málaga: Things to See and Do in the Heart of Andalucía

Andalucía , Spain

Birthplace of Pablo Picasso and home to one of Europe’s best climates, Málaga is, for me, one of the continent’s most criminally underrated cities.

First Timer’s Guide to climbing Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddf)

United Kingdom , Wales

Get to grips with the basic information you need to get you on the way to the summit of Snowdon!

Sustainable Weddings with the National Trust: Our Wedding at Gibson Mill, Hardcastle Crags

After 13 years together, 3 years engaged, and 1 Covid-postponed wedding, myself and Liv finally tied the knot at Gibson Mill, Hardcastle Crags.

Our Las Vegas & Cancún Honeymoon

Cancún , Las Vegas , Mexico , USA

One week after our wedding we jetted off on our honeymoon to Las Vegas and Mexico Here is a run down of our experiences along the way.

51 Things To Do In Whitby This Year

United Kingdom , Whitby

Quintessentially English, Whitby has everything you would want from a Northern seaside town: quality beaches, fish and chips, and ice creams aplenty.

Wine Tasting at Bodegas Bentomiz: A Paradise in the Andalucían Mountains

Nestled above the village of Sayalonga in Málaga lies Bodegas Bentomiz, an unassuming gem of the Spanish food and drink scene

Photoblog: Exploring La Alpujarra, Spain

Showcasing the beauty, serenity, and daily life of La Alpujarra, a collection of traditional white pueblos straddling Granada and Almería.

Andalucían Adventures: 9 Incredible Day Trips from Málaga, Spain

With a well-connected international airport, Málaga is centrally located making it the perfect gateway to explore the beauty of Andalucía.

10 Unmissable Things to do in Ronda, Spain’s City of Dreams

Perched on the precipice of the El Tajo canyon and nestled in the mountainous region between Málaga, Cádiz, and Seville, lies Ronda, Spain’s ‘city of dreams’.

resources and inspiration

Pin it on pinterest, cookie overview.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

Every Journey Begins With a Step Sample

Start with a step forward.

As we journey forward in our walk with God, we must continually listen to God’s voice and take steps forward in obedience. God will prompt us to move forward in our relationships, make bold moves in business, and continually press in to know Him better.

For me, it’s easier and sometimes even fun to take steps when the path seems clear, and I have some understanding of what’s ahead. But when we look at Abraham’s example, we can see that he began moving before he knew where he was going. Sometimes, God will invite us to walk before he shows us the destination.

I’ve found in business that there are times when we have to trust God and make decisions based on what we know of His character more than knowledge of the outcome.

When faced with a difficult situation, ask these questions:

• What is the problem?
• What is God’s response?
• What steps can I take this week to walk forward in faith?

Our faith grows as we trust God, follow His direction, and see Him prove Himself repeatedly. Just as Abraham had to step out and move his family and household to a land God promised him without fully knowing where he was going, we, too, get to adventure with God through all the twists and turns our life presents.

Faith without works is dead. (James 2:20) Therefore, we must act on our faith. Faith is an action word – it requires us to step out. We can say we believe in God, but we prove our faith when we’re tested. Will you follow and obey even if it’s hard? Even if you can’t see the full picture? Anyone can say they believe God when they are comfortable and safe. It’s when trial comes that we show our real convictions.

As we follow through, obey, and walk with God, we see His faithfulness, and our faith grows. God invites us to participate in what He’s doing because He wants relationship with us. He wants us to partner with Him to shine His light into the world. What an amazing concept! Our faith equips us to team up with God.

What steps of faith can you take this week?

Hebrews 11:8

Genesis 12:1

About this Plan

Leadership Lessons from the Life of Abraham

We would like to thank John Houston for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://meetjohnhouston.com

Related Plans

Abiding in Him

Finding Joy in the Trinity

From Grief to Glory: Mary's Journey With the Risen Saviour

Matthew's Message: Seven Nuggets

Finding Security Amidst the Storms: How to Find Your Secure Attachment in God-With-Us

Everyone Needs a Saviour

Ruins to Restoration

7 Devotions to Sweeten Your Day in a Godly Way

You Said, "Yes!"

YouVersion uses cookies to personalize your experience. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy

• Category: ID@Xbox

Every Journey Starts with a Single Step

The award winning sensation is finally available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

Road 96 is a crazy, beautiful road-trip where you discover exciting places, and unusual people on your own personal journey to freedom. Here’s a chat with DigixArt Entertainment CEO Yoan Fanise, about this ever-evolving story-driven adventure inspired by Tarantino, The Coen Brothers, and Bong Joon-ho, made by the award-winning creators of Valiant Hearts and Memories Retold.

Why Did You Choose This Background for an Adventure Game? We wanted to talk about a serious subject in Road 96, about our life’s choices as teenagers but in a colourful and immersive adventure. We wanted to create a road trip that would highlight society problems but not a specific one in particular. We mixed many references, from all political systems, and we created the authoritarian nation of “Petria” from that. It could look sometimes like American deserts, like European mountains, like Korean buildings, this is intentional because the topics raised exist in many societies. Road 96 is fun to play and experience but it could make players think, beyond entertainment, what would you do?

Were You Trying to Shed Light on Current Affairs that Don’t Normally Get Tackled in Games?

Yes! We want to talk about subjects that are underrepresented in videogames (dictators, running away etc.), enlarge the scope of these subjects, try (from our side at least) to make this art evolve. We are truly happy that it’s resonating with players.

Why a Road Trip? I personally always wanted to craft a road trip story. To create a system where your choices really change the next step of your trip, a metaphor for life’s choices. You know, these moments where you take a decision that will shape the rest of your life, and at that point in life you don’t even know it yet, I find it fabulous! Our life is full of butterfly effects when you look backwards at it. In a game you have the chance to make it, again and again, it’s a second chance, it’s magic.

Was It Difficult to Write Such an Open Pathed Game? The system we developed with the team was very complex and the fact that we never know when and where a sequence will happen is scary.  Our prototypes helped us understand any constraints it would have on the narration, But after rewriting and playtesting it intensively we embraced this framework, the impossibility to talk about time of day, about how close is the border, and all those variables: Have you met Fanny already? Was that in that ride? Does she know your character already? In the end it was a delight to master the system, to make those thousands of dialogs and situations work in any and every case.

What Was the Biggest Challenge? It was mastering the unknown. When you have “hundreds of bricks of script” that can be combined in any order, the mathematic result of combination is so big that we have to accept there could be some weird transitions. But we did our best to limit those occurrences,  and from the players‘ reactions, it seems we did a good job.

If You Had One Message to the Audience, What would It Be? No one’s road is the same in this adventure, hit the road to discover your own path, it will be fun, it will be sad, it will be scary, it may make you think about problems you never thought of before, and we hope you’ll enjoy playing it and be proud of your ending.

Thank you for taking the time to talk with me, Yoan. Road 96 is now available on the Xbox Store for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Ravenscourt Games

A centenarian who starts her day with gentle exercise and loves walks shares 5 longevity tips, including staying single

• Joyce Preston, who's from the UK, turned 100 in March.
• She shared her advice for people wanting to live to 100 like her.
• Her tips include spending lots of time with friends, learning,  and staying single.

In 1924, the Winter Olympics were held for the first time, the Ottoman Empire fell, and the Soviet Union was officially recognized as a state. It was also the year that Joyce Preston, who turned 100 years old last month, was born in the British town of Stockport.

Preston has spent her 10 decades well. As well as working for a cotton research company, she played the piano and sang in choirs for 90 years before winding down in recent years, and has traveled the world with friends, falling in love with the Middle East in particular.

A few months ago, Preston moved into Care UK's Abney Court care home. There, she starts her day by doing yoga or gentle exercise and loves going for walks.

If current trends continue, centenarians like Preston won't be such a rarity: it is estimated there will be eight times as many worldwide by 2050. And considering that by 2023, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 9.9% of people over 75 will still be working, up from 8.2% in 2022, it's easy to see why longevity is such a buzzy topic.

For those of us who don't have the funds or inclination to spend millions on longevity a year like tech exec Bryan Johnson , whose motto is "don't die," it's heartening that most experts agree that eating healthily and exercising regularly can have a hugely positive effect on our healthspans.

Preston shares her secrets for living to 100 and staying active into older age.

Stay single

Preston never married, and her biggest tip for reaching 100 is to "stay single."

The research on relationship status and longevity is mixed. Studies show that married people tend to live longer, possibly because they are less likely to be lonely and stressed.

But Paul Dolan, professor of behavioral science at the London School of Economics, told The Guardian that women who never marry or have children are the healthiest and happiest because they don't have to "put up with" a partner.

Related stories

But marriage can lead to better financial stability and emotional support, he said, suggesting that the least stressful option is best.

Have lots of friends

Although Preston doesn't have a spouse, she has plenty of friends and spends a considerable amount of time with them.

She advises young people wanting to reach triple figures to "have lots of friends to keep you busy and for companionship."

According to gerontology professor Rose Anne Kenny, based at Trinity College Dublin, social interaction is as beneficial for longevity as eating a good diet or exercising.

She said this could be because loneliness has been linked to chronic inflammation , which researchers believe increases the risk of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and strokes.

Don't act your age

Research suggests that thinking positively about aging could help people live longer — possibly as much as 7.5 years according to one 2002 study that compared different perceptions toward aging.

Preston said she doesn't let her age hold her back and maintained her independence by continuing to drive until recently.

Be religious

As a founding member of an independent evangelical church, religion is important to Preston, and she believes it has contributed to her long life.

Researchers from LongeviQuest , an organization that validates the ages of supercentenarians, previously told BI that most of the 110+ year-olds they spoke to in Latin America were very religious, and it appeared to help them stay positive.

Religion itself might not be the secret sauce for longevity. Research suggests spiritual people may live longer because of the potential mental health benefits, with one 2023 study linking it to resilience and life satisfaction in older people.

Dr. Joseph Maroon , a neuroscientist and eight-time Ironman triathlete who still competes at age 84, previously told BI that spirituality is one of the four pillars of health for him.

Keep learning

As a member of the University of the Third Age, a charity providing opportunities for retirees to learn new skills, Preston has kept learning into her 10th decade.

Learning new things is thought to help prevent cognitive decline in older age, Heidi Tissenbaum, a molecular, cell, and cancer biology professor who researches healthy aging, previously told BI.

Watch: Queen Elizabeth dies at age 96 — we look back at her 70-year reign

• Main content