--- title: "3 Approval Quotes By Laozi" description: "3 Approval quotes by Laozi. Plus more from Laozi and more Approval sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/laozi-147_approval_fill-your-bowl-to-the-brim-and-it-will-s_108873.jpg" --- > [Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/fill-your-bowl-to-the-brim-and-it-will-spill-keep-sharpening-your/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/laozi-147_approval_fill-your-bowl-to-the-brim-and-it-will-s_108873.jpg) > [Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men doesn't try to force issues or defeat enemies by force of arms. For every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/whoever-relies-on-the-tao-in-governing-men-doesn-t-try-to-force/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6c/laozi-147_accepting_whoever-relies-on-the-tao-in-governing-m_401493.jpg) > [Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/care-about-people-s-approval-and-you-will-be-their-prisoner/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/laozi-147_approval_care-about-people-s-approval-and-you-wil_1005453.jpg) ## Other authors on Approval - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b022/author-sonya-parker-86224.jpg) Sonya Parker 12 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/sonya-parker/) - [Mark Twain 12 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/mark-twain/) - [C. S. Lewis 8 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/c-s-lewis/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b007/author-armin-ferizovic-25387.jpg) Armin Ferizovic 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/armin-ferizovic/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b024/author-wayne-dyer-94637.jpg) Wayne Dyer 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/wayne-dyer/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-joyce-meyer-53800.jpg) Joyce Meyer 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/joyce-meyer/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b024/author-tullian-tchividjian-92416.jpg) Tullian Tchividjian 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/tullian-tchividjian/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b016/author-madonna-ciccone-62567.jpg) Madonna Ciccone 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/madonna-ciccone/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b009/author-ezra-taft-benson-34453.jpg) Ezra Taft Benson 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/ezra-taft-benson/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b008/author-donald-trump-30060.jpg) Donald Trump 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/donald-trump/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b006/author-byron-katie-20456.jpg) Byron Katie 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/byron-katie/) ## More by Laozi > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In lightness the root is lost. In haste the ruler is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-lightness-the-root-is-lost-in-haste-the-ruler-is-lost/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-the-sage-wants-to-stand-above-people-he-must-speak-to-them-from/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Goodie-goodies are the thieves of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/goodie-goodies-are-the-thieves-of-virtue/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He that humbles himself shall be preserved entire. He that bends shall be made straight. He that is empty shall be filled. He that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-that-humbles-himself-shall-be-preserved-entire-he-that-bends-shall/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Way of the Sage is to act but not to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-way-of-the-sage-is-to-act-but-not-to-compete/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Do nondoing, strive for nonstriving, savor the flavorless, regard the small as important, make much of little, repay enmity with virtue; plan for difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/do-nondoing-strive-for-nonstriving-savor-the-flavorless-regard-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Without looking through the window, you can see Heaven's Way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/without-looking-through-the-window-you-can-see-heaven-s-way/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-dissolve-your-ego-can-you-abandon-the-idea-of-self-and-other/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What's the difference between beautiful and ugly?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-s-the-difference-between-beautiful-and-ugly/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In stillness the muddied water returns to clarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-stillness-the-muddied-water-returns-to-clarity/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He (the sage) is good to those who are good. He is also good to those who are not good. That is the virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-the-sage-is-good-to-those-who-are-good-he-is-also-good-to-those/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [There is a thing inherent and natural which existed before heaven and earth. Motionless and fathomless, It stands alone and never changes; It pervades…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/there-is-a-thing-inherent-and-natural-which-existed-before-heaven-and/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-is-a-good-man-but-a-bad-man-s-teacher-what-is-a-bad-man-but-a/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/laozi/#itemlist", "name": "3 Approval Quotes By Laozi", "numberOfItems": 3, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. 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