--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Develop the strength of a man, but live…" description: "\"Develop the strength of a man, but live as gently as a woman\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/laozi-147_feminism_develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-a_484370.jpg" --- # Develop the strength of a man, but live as gently as a woman ![“Develop the strength of a man, but live as gently as a woman” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/laozi-147_feminism_develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-a_484370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/laozi-147_feminism_develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-a_484370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/laozi-147_feminism_develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-a_484370.jpg) > “Develop the strength of a man, but live as gently as a woman” [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. True strength lies in gentle, compassionate behavior. **In simple terms:** Strength is expressed through gentleness. Key Takeaway Develop power with kindness. Themes strength gentleness compassion Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts Daoism ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you show strength gently? - What examples demonstrate compassionate power? A Different Perspective Gentleness may be misinterpreted as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Strength Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-man/) ## Related quotes > [I live very gently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gondelman/i-live-very-gently/) [Josh Gondelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gondelman/) > [“Love freely Ask kindly Live gently Love fiercely Hope infinitely Rage internally Forgive repeatedly Speak wisely Feel deeply”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-howard/love-freely-ask-kindly-live-gently-love-fiercely-hope-infinitely-rage/) [Amit Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-howard/) > [Without adversity, the butterfly would never have the strength to achieve its destiny. It would never develop the strength to become something extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/without-adversity-the-butterfly-would-never-have-the-strength-to/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [I do a lot of free weights in the gym, with lots of squats, lunges and push-pull exercises to help develop strength and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-root/i-do-a-lot-of-free-weights-in-the-gym-with-lots-of-squats-lunges-and/) [Joe Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-root/) > [If we didn't struggle through some things, we would never develop the strength and stamina we need to survive in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/if-we-didn-t-struggle-through-some-things-we-would-never-develop-the/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [A strong man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker is willing to be helped, and even then the weak man must become strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/a-strong-man-cannot-help-a-weaker-unless-the-weaker-is-willing-to-be/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [Develop strength and control at an early age and embrace love coupled with a selfless heart. Only then, will you find true peace in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/develop-strength-and-control-at-an-early-age-and-embrace-love-coupled/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strength. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleatha-romig/strength-does-not-come-from-winning-your-struggles-develop-your-4/) [Aleatha Romig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleatha-romig/) > [Strength does not come from winning, your struggles develop your strength. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender that is strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/strength-does-not-come-from-winning-your-struggles-develop-your-3/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [By meditation we develop that strength within us, so automatically we start solving the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/by-meditation-we-develop-that-strength-within-us-so-automatically-we/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [“Each time, you’ll learn something. Each time, you’ll develop strength, wisdom, and perspective. Each time, a little more of the competition falls away. Until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/each-time-you-ll-learn-something-each-time-you-ll-develop-strength/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Beautiful girl, every struggle you have will help you develop the strength you need to fly. You are capable of doing the work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystal-evans-hurst/beautiful-girl-every-struggle-you-have-will-help-you-develop-the/) [Chrystal Evans Hurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystal-evans-hurst/) > [Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges and to develop strength without any struggle. But growth cannot come by taking the easy way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-v-johnson/sometimes-we-want-to-have-growth-without-challenges-and-to-develop/) [Paul V. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-v-johnson/) > [The struggling you do today will develop the strength you need tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/the-struggling-you-do-today-will-develop-the-strength-you-need/) [Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/) > [“To develop a strength in any activity requires certain natural talents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/to-develop-a-strength-in-any-activity-requires-certain-natural-talents/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) ## 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/) [Explore all 1,140 Laozi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## More Feminism quotes > [“But benevolent patriarchy is still patriarchy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/but-benevolent-patriarchy-is-still-patriarchy/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one-in-tech-circles-including/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [Without meaning to sound anti-men, ghastly women are the closest you get to a male role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/without-meaning-to-sound-anti-men-ghastly-women-are-the-closest-you/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/) Joseph Joffre > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“there was something of the women molded into the great, stalwart frame of Hollingsworth; nor was he ashamed of it; as men often are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-was-something-of-the-women-molded-into-the-great-stalwart-frame/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [“Bármilyen idiótának, aki azt kérdezi: „Feminista vagy? Akkor elégeted a melltartóidat, mi? HE? Melltartókat égetsz, te feminista?” – szép nyugodtan így kell válaszolni: „Ostoba.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/b-rmilyen-idi-t-nak-aki-azt-k-rdezi-feminista-vagy-akkor-el-geted-a/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Women know things that men will never know. We keep the best secrets. We tell the best stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/women-know-things-that-men-will-never-know-we-keep-the-best-secrets/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) Yoram Wind [Browse all 15,705 Feminism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Develop the strength of a man, but live as gently as a woman", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laozi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-as-gently-as-a-woman/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feminism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-as-gently-as-a-woman/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/laozi-147_feminism_develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-a_484370.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/laozi-147_feminism_develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-a_484370.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/laozi-147_feminism_develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-a_484370.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Develop the strength of a man, but live as gently as a woman” — 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": "Develop the strength of a man,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-as-gently-as-a-woman/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/develop-the-strength-of-a-man-but-live-as-gently-as-a-woman/#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 } } ] } ```