---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we mean by Tao is the way or course…"
description: "\"What we mean by Tao is the way or course of Nature. This way has nothing good or bad, it is a mere flowing of things following the development and decl..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/anonymous-1_attributes_what-we-mean-by-tao-is-the-way-or-course_1288002.jpg"
---

#  What we mean by Tao is the way or course of Nature. This…

![“What we mean by Tao is the way or course of Nature. This way has nothing good or bad, it is a mere flowing of things following the development and decline attributes of the moment.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/anonymous-1_attributes_what-we-mean-by-tao-is-the-way-or-course_1288002.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/anonymous-1_attributes_what-we-mean-by-tao-is-the-way-or-course_1288002.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/anonymous-1_attributes_what-we-mean-by-tao-is-the-way-or-course_1288002.jpg)

> “What we mean by Tao is the way or course of Nature. This way has nothing good or bad, it is a mere flowing of things following the development and decline attributes of the moment.”

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Tao represents nature's neutral flow, beyond moral judgments, simply following change.

**In simple terms:** Tao is nature’s unbiased flow.

Key Takeaway

Observe and align with natural cycles.

Themes

philosophy nature neutrality

Mood

contemplative serene

Type

philosophical spiritual

When to use this quote

- Gardening
- business cycles
- personal growth
- environmental policy

Key Concepts

Taoism impermanence non‑duality

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you respond to change without judgment?
- Can you find balance in opposing forces?

A Different Perspective

Applying Taoist neutrality may conflict with ethical decisions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attributes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attributes/) [Course Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/course-nature-2297087/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Decline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decline/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following/) [Heaven and earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-earth/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Mean Tao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-tao-4186052/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Mere Flowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere-flowing-4186053/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-way-1280807/) [Tao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tao/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) [Things Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-following-699763/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [If we don't chase things, sometimes the things following us can catch up." -L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-don-t-chase-things-sometimes-the-things-following-us-can-catch/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Death is nature's way of saying Howdy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-nature-s-way-of-saying-howdy/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-nature-s-way-of-keeping-everything-from-happening-all-at-once/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Death is just nature's way of making room for the less experienced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-just-nature-s-way-of-making-room-for-the-less-experienced/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Love is nature's way of ensuring pregnancy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-nature-s-way-of-ensuring-pregnancy/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“It’s hard to put things behind us when they’re following us everywhere. Sometimes we need to stop and turn around and face those things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anni-taylor/it-s-hard-to-put-things-behind-us-when-they-re-following-us/)

[Anni Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anni-taylor/)

> [“For every star that falls to earth a new one glows. For every dream that fades away a new one grows. When things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/for-every-star-that-falls-to-earth-a-new-one-glows-for-every-dream/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [The course of Nature is the art of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-course-of-nature-is-the-art-of-god/)

[Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/)

> [The course of Nature seems a course of Death, And nothingness the whole substantial thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-james-bailey/the-course-of-nature-seems-a-course-of-death-and-nothingness-the/)

[Philip James Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-james-bailey/)

> [We find in the course of nature that though the effects be many, the principles from which they arise are commonly few and simple,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/we-find-in-the-course-of-nature-that-though-the-effects-be-many-the/)

[David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/)

> [“And we were taught to play golf. Golf epitomizes the tame world. On a golf course nature is neutered. The grass is clean, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/and-we-were-taught-to-play-golf-golf-epitomizes-the-tame-world-on-a/)

[Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/)

> [The Tao doesn't take sides; it gives birth to both good and evil. The Master doesn't take sides; she welcomes both saints and sinners.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-tao-doesn-t-take-sides-it-gives-birth-to-both-good-and-evil-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Do you want to improve the world? I don't think it can be done. The world is sacred. It can't be improved. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-want-to-improve-the-world-i-don-t-think-it-can-be-done-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Whoever is planted in the Tao will not be rooted up. Whoever embraces the Tao will not slip away. Her name will be held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whoever-is-planted-in-the-tao-will-not-be-rooted-up-whoever-embraces/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [To understand the limitation of things, desire them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-understand-the-limitation-of-things-desire-them/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More Attributes quotes

> [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/)

[Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/)

> [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/)

[Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/)

> [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/)

[Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/)

> [I think the greatest imagination we can exercise is one that imagines how someone else feels. Because you know how you feel, but so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-think-the-greatest-imagination-we-can-exercise-is-one-that-imagines/)

[Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/)

> [A lover asked his beloved, Do you love yourself more than you love me? Beloved replied, I have died to myself and I live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lover-asked-his-beloved-do-you-love-yourself-more-than-you-love-me/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [One of the greatest attributes of jazz, I think, is that it is that open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-of-the-greatest-attributes-of-jazz-i-think-is-that-it-is-that-open/)

[Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/)

> [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. WE can't sideline His more difficult attributes to make room for the palatable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-is-compassionate-and-just-loving-and-holy-wrathful-and-forgiving/)

[Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/)

> [I'm Irish and always will be, but America has taught me so much. Maybe it's here in the U.S. that we find a healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/i-m-irish-and-always-will-be-but-america-has-taught-me-so-much-maybe/)

[Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/)

> [“It is this spirit of godliness that will bring forth the attributes, the principles and the life style of godliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-this-spirit-of-godliness-that-will-bring-forth-the-attributes/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [My Calvinism persuades me that we are open to God, in the sense that we are not delimited, not organisms with fixed attributes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-calvinism-persuades-me-that-we-are-open-to-god-in-the-sense-that/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

> [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/)

[Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/)

> [I have often noticed that the two nuclear powers on the Indian subcontinent, India and Pakistan, attribute to Kashmiris an inferior intellect, a lineage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyla-ali-khan/i-have-often-noticed-that-the-two-nuclear-powers-on-the-indian/)

[Nyla Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyla-ali-khan/)

> [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/)

[Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/)

> [Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/developing-christlike-attributes-in-our-lives-is-not-an-easy-task/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [If I have any attribute that serves me well, it's I don't have a long-range plan in life. I have no idea. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wilbon/if-i-have-any-attribute-that-serves-me-well-it-s-i-don-t-have-a-long/)

[Michael Wilbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wilbon/)

[Browse all 852 Attributes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attributes/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What we mean by Tao is the way or course of Nature. This way has nothing good or bad, it is a mere flowing of things following the development and decline attributes of the moment.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anonymous"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-mean-by-tao-is-the-way-or-course-of-nature-this-way-has/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attributes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-mean-by-tao-is-the-way-or-course-of-nature-this-way-has/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/anonymous-1_attributes_what-we-mean-by-tao-is-the-way-or-course_1288002.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/anonymous-1_attributes_what-we-mean-by-tao-is-the-way-or-course_1288002.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/anonymous-1_attributes_what-we-mean-by-tao-is-the-way-or-course_1288002.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What we mean by Tao is the way or course of Nature. This way has nothing good or bad, it is a mere flowing…” — Anonymous",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Anonymous",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What we mean by Tao is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-mean-by-tao-is-the-way-or-course-of-nature-this-way-has/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-mean-by-tao-is-the-way-or-course-of-nature-this-way-has/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
