--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The journey of a thousand leagues begins…" description: "\"The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step.\" — Lao Tzu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/lao-tzu-624_beginning_the-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins_345873.jpg" --- # The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. ![“The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step.” quote by Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/lao-tzu-624_beginning_the-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins_345873.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/lao-tzu-624_beginning_the-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins_345873.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/lao-tzu-624_beginning_the-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins_345873.jpg) > “The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step.” [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. Great endeavors start with a single, deliberate action. **In simple terms:** Big goals begin with one step. Key Takeaway Begin now, even if small. Themes perseverance action journeys mindfulness Mood motivational hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career change - fitness goals - learning new skill - overcoming procrastination Key Concepts incremental progress taoist philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What first step have you delayed? - How does starting small reduce fear? A Different Perspective Sustained effort is needed after the first step. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Begins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begins/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Journey Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey-thousand/) [Single step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-step/) [Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step/) [Thousand Leagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-leagues-810436/) ## Related quotes > [The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. So we must never neglect any work of peace within our reach, however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-e-stevenson/the-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-with-a-single-step-so-we/) [Adlai E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-e-stevenson/) > [A journey of a thousand leagues begins beneath one's feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-beneath-one-s-feet/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout; the tower of nine storeys rose from a (small) heap of earth; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/the-tree-which-fills-the-arms-grew-from-the-tiniest-sprout-the-tower/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/a-journey-of-a-thousand-miles-must-begin-with-a-single-step/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/the-journey-of-a-thousand-miles-begins-with-a-single-step/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/do-the-difficult-things-while-they-are-easy-and-do-the-great-things/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [Keep focused on your goal throughout your trip. They say the journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step, try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/keep-focused-on-your-goal-throughout-your-trip-they-say-the-journey/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Watch your step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-journey-of-a-thousand-miles-begins-with-a-single-step-watch-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-journey-of-a-thousand-miles-begin-with-a-single-step/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The tree which needs two arms to span its girth sprang from the tiniest shoot. Yon tower, nine stories high, rose from a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tree-which-needs-two-arms-to-span-its-girth-sprang-from-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [According to the ancient Chinese proverb, A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/according-to-the-ancient-chinese-proverb-a-journey-of-a-thousand/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step and if that step is the right step, it becomes the last step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-journey-of-a-thousand-miles-starts-with-a-single-step-and-if-that/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“But all we need to do is begin. The rest will take care of itself. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-donnelly/but-all-we-need-to-do-is-begin-the-rest-will-take-care-of-itself-a/) [Jennifer Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-donnelly/) > [“They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I took mine and fell flat on my face. As a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-novogratz/they-say-a-journey-of-a-thousand-miles-begins-with-a-single-step-i/) [Jacqueline Novogratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-novogratz/) > [A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-journey-of-thousand-miles-begins-with-a-single-step/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Lao Tzu > [“This is how they are able to continue and endure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/this-is-how-they-are-able-to-continue-and-endure/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Gravity is the root of lightness;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/gravity-is-the-root-of-lightness/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Therefore the Tao is great;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/therefore-the-tao-is-great/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Not seeking, not expecting, she is present, and can welcome all things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/not-seeking-not-expecting-she-is-present-and-can-welcome-all-things/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“What all men fear is indeed to be feared;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/what-all-men-fear-is-indeed-to-be-feared/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Just remain in the center; watching. And then forget that you are there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/just-remain-in-the-center-watching-and-then-forget-that-you-are-there/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“This is what is called 'The mysterious Quality' (of the Tao).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/this-is-what-is-called-the-mysterious-quality-of-the-tao/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“If you show yourself, you will not be seen. If you affirm yourself, you will not shine. If you boast, you will have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/if-you-show-yourself-you-will-not-be-seen-if-you-affirm-yourself-you/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“The thirty spokes unite in the one nave; but it is on the empty space (for the axle), that the use of the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/the-thirty-spokes-unite-in-the-one-nave-but-it-is-on-the-empty-space/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“To know and yet (think) we do not know is the highest (attainment); not to know (and yet think) we do know is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/to-know-and-yet-think-we-do-not-know-is-the-highest-attainment-not-to/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent. 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Let us give to God what belongs to him: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/january-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-year-for-us-in-the-western-world/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [In the beginning, if you look at those early label albums of the Chicks, we didn't write all that much. We had an A&R…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/in-the-beginning-if-you-look-at-those-early-label-albums-of-the/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. 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