Find a quote you half remember…
People › Philosophers › Laozi

Laozi

Chinese philosopher, traditional author of the Tao Te Ching. 1 explained quote.

Traditional portrait of Laozi
≈ Paraphrase · Start here
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Laozi · 350 BC
≈ Paraphrase
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Laozi · Tao Te Ching, chapter 64 · 350 BC · Philosopher

Great things grow from small beginnings, so start with what is right in front of you. The original says the journey begins “beneath one's feet.”

Read the full explanation →

No quotes match these filters yet. New quotes are added every week.

About Laozi

Laozi, also spelled Lao Tzu, is the legendary founder of Taoism and the traditional author of the Tao Te Ching, a short book of 81 poetic chapters about the Tao, or Way.

Ancient Chinese sources say he was an archivist at the Zhou court, but historians are unsure whether he was a single real person. The book was probably compiled around the 4th century BC.