--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A journey of a thousand leagues begins…" description: "\"A journey of a thousand leagues begins beneath one's feet.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/laozi-147_beneath_a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-b_2475836.jpg" --- # A journey of a thousand leagues begins beneath one's feet. ![“A journey of a thousand leagues begins beneath one's feet.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/laozi-147_beneath_a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-b_2475836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/laozi-147_beneath_a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-b_2475836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/laozi-147_beneath_a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-b_2475836.jpg) > “A journey of a thousand leagues begins beneath one's feet.” [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great undertakings start from the ground beneath us; progress is built step by step. **In simple terms:** Big goals start from the ground. Key Takeaway Begin with small, grounded actions. Themes progress humility foundation Mood inspirational philosophical Type wisdom motivational When to use this quote - personal projects - career planning - learning new skills Key Concepts incrementalism grounded effort patience Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today? - How does grounding help ambition? A Different Perspective May ignore need for vision beyond steps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) ## Related quotes > [The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. 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Never try to avoid that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/dig-beneath-your-feet-there-you-will-find-a-spring-the-place-where/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [The path is always right beneath your feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issan-dorsey/the-path-is-always-right-beneath-your-feet/) Issan Dorsey > [If I'm taking a picture of Brancusi's grave, I know that there's something of him, of his mortal remains, beneath my feet, and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-taking-a-picture-of-brancusi-s-grave-i-know-that-there-s/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [You are the earth beneath my feet, you are my gravity(;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-the-earth-beneath-my-feet-you-are-my-gravity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We've heard a lot in recent polemic about how to win the fight for the corner office. But pushing up against a glass ceiling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/we-ve-heard-a-lot-in-recent-polemic-about-how-to-win-the-fight-for/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [There is no place to search for the truth. Though it's right beneath your feet, it can't be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daido-loori/there-is-no-place-to-search-for-the-truth-though-it-s-right-beneath/) [John Daido Loori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daido-loori/) > [“Before you knew it, a wonder could mix with the plain old earth beneath your feet until you could no longer tell the difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-brock/before-you-knew-it-a-wonder-could-mix-with-the-plain-old-earth/) Kimberly Brock > [A journey of a thousand miles starts in front of your feet. A tower nine stories high is built from a small heap of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-journey-of-a-thousand-miles-starts-in-front-of-your-feet-a-tower/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [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/) > [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/) > [The journey of a thousand miles starts from beneath your feet. NOTE: Other translations exist, such as:Great trees grow from the smallest shoots;a terraced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-journey-of-a-thousand-miles-starts-from-beneath-your-feet-note/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## 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. 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The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wortabet/be-merciful-to-him-who-is-beneath-you-and-you-will-have-mercy-from/) [John Wortabet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wortabet/) > [I'm of that generation of Jews still deeply influenced by the Holocaust. Certainly the notion that the state power to kill can be subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-turow/i-m-of-that-generation-of-jews-still-deeply-influenced-by-the/) [Scott Turow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-turow/) > [“Far below, the ocean was a bluegray rug being pulled out from beneath us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/far-below-the-ocean-was-a-bluegray-rug-being-pulled-out-from-beneath/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“Blood is everywhere.. Vultures take shelter beneath the tanks; for the fumed sky is unsafe for their avian flight to prey on the Palestinian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/blood-is-everywhere-vultures-take-shelter-beneath-the-tanks-for-the/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [“Words never mean anything. Look beneath them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-hutchison/words-never-mean-anything-look-beneath-them/) [Dot Hutchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dot-hutchison/) > [If you put someone above you don't be surprised when they start acting like you're beneath them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-you-put-someone-above-you-don-t-be-surprised-when-they-start/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“There is a city beneath the streets”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-sullivan-jr/there-is-a-city-beneath-the-streets/) Robert E. Sullivan Jr > [I fell in love with Rwanda the moment I saw those verdant, rolling hills rise up beneath the wings of the plane as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-benaron/i-fell-in-love-with-rwanda-the-moment-i-saw-those-verdant-rolling/) [Naomi Benaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-benaron/) > [“Young love is a step apart from reality. It paints over the crudities of the world with pretty colors. Only problem is, when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-erin-valent/young-love-is-a-step-apart-from-reality-it-paints-over-the-crudities/) [Jennifer Erin Valent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-erin-valent/) > [Cesc Fabregas' dead balls have loads of air beneath them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicklas-bendtner/cesc-fabregas-dead-balls-have-loads-of-air-beneath-them/) [Nicklas Bendtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicklas-bendtner/) Browse all 212 Beneath quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A journey of a thousand leagues begins beneath one's feet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laozi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-beneath-one-s-feet/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beneath" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-beneath-one-s-feet/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/laozi-147_beneath_a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-b_2475836.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/laozi-147_beneath_a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-b_2475836.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/laozi-147_beneath_a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-b_2475836.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A journey of a thousand leagues begins beneath one's feet.” — Laozi", "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": "Laozi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A journey of a thousand leagues...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-beneath-one-s-feet/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-journey-of-a-thousand-leagues-begins-beneath-one-s-feet/#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 } } ] } ```