--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we could renounce our artful…" description: "\"“If we could renounce our artful contrivances and discard our (scheming for) gain, there would be no thieves nor robbers.”\" — Lao Tzu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/lao-tzu-624_discard_if-we-could-renounce-our-artful-contriva_358201.jpg" --- # If we could renounce our artful contrivances and discard… ![“If we could renounce our artful contrivances and discard our (scheming for) gain, there would be no thieves nor robbers.” quote by Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/lao-tzu-624_discard_if-we-could-renounce-our-artful-contriva_358201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/lao-tzu-624_discard_if-we-could-renounce-our-artful-contriva_358201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/lao-tzu-624_discard_if-we-could-renounce-our-artful-contriva_358201.jpg) > ““If we could renounce our artful contrivances and discard our (scheming for) gain, there would be no thieves nor robbers.”” [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If humanity abandoned selfish scheming, theft and robbery would cease. **In simple terms:** Selflessness eliminates crime. Key Takeaway Cultivate honesty and generosity. Themes ethics community selflessness Mood calm thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business practices - personal relationships - public policy Key Concepts moral philosophy social harmony Questions to Reflect On - What motivates honest behavior? - Can societies thrive without incentives? A Different Perspective Human nature may resist pure altruism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) ## Related quotes > [In science, each new result, sometimes quite surprising, heralds a step forward and allows one to discard some hypotheses, even though one or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-b-prusiner/in-science-each-new-result-sometimes-quite-surprising-heralds-a-step/) [Stanley B. 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