Thinker × theme

Laozi quotes on way

3 verified English passages where Laozi’ s thought meets questions of way.

Laozi on way

Laozi (traditionally 6th century BCE) approaches way within Daoism. The Dao is the nameless generative way from which the ten thousand things arise; naming and forcing distort it. Wu wei recommends non-coercive, timely action that does not strain against the grain of things. On this page, the archive isolates English passages where that project meets way most directly—useful for searches such as “laozi quotes on way.”

How to use this page

Start with the shortest passage, then compare tone across sources. Return to the Laozi thinker page for biography and to the way theme for other voices on the same question.

Frequently asked

What did Laozi say about way?

The quotations below are the archive’s curated answer: English renderings selected for clarity and attribution, not a complete corpus.

Where else should I read after laozi on way?

Related themes: Self , Knowledge , Freedom , Nature , Reason , Life .

  1. The highest good is like water. Water benefits the myriad things and does not contend; it dwells in places the multitude dislike — therefore it is close to the Way.
  2. Humans model themselves on earth; earth on heaven; heaven on the Way; and the Way on what is naturally so.
  3. In pursuing learning, one increases day by day; in pursuing the Way, one decreases day by day. Decreasing and decreasing again, one arrives at non-action.