--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do you think you can make the world a…" description: "\"Do you think you can make the world a better place? I do not think you can. It is already perfect.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/laozi-147_better-place_do-you-think-you-can-make-the-world-a-be_206624.jpg" --- # Do you think you can make the world a better place? I do… ![“Do you think you can make the world a better place? I do not think you can. It is already perfect.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/laozi-147_better-place_do-you-think-you-can-make-the-world-a-be_206624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/laozi-147_better-place_do-you-think-you-can-make-the-world-a-be_206624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/laozi-147_better-place_do-you-think-you-can-make-the-world-a-be_206624.jpg) > “Do you think you can make the world a better place? I do not think you can. It is already perfect.” [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. The speaker asserts that the world is already perfect, implying that attempts to improve it are unnecessary. **In simple terms:** The world is perfect, so no need to improve it. Key Takeaway Accept the present as it is. Themes perfection contentment philosophy Mood contemplative calm Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - spiritual contemplation Key Concepts Taoism determinism Questions to Reflect On - Is perfection a useful concept? - How does this view affect activism? A Different Perspective Critics may argue that perfection is subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-place/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Do anything that might make the world a better place for someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-payton/do-anything-that-might-make-the-world-a-better-place-for-someone/) [Walter Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-payton/) > [I am still fighting to make the world a better place and you can, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-giffords/i-am-still-fighting-to-make-the-world-a-better-place-and-you-can-too/) [Gabrielle Giffords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-giffords/) > [I want to help make the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ortega/i-want-to-help-make-the-world-a-better-place/) [Brian Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ortega/) > [Put your passions to work to make this world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/put-your-passions-to-work-to-make-this-world-a-better-place/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [To make the world a better place, see the world as a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/to-make-the-world-a-better-place-see-the-world-as-a-better-place/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [I think different societies, cultures, individuals, teams of people, make the world a better place. The founding fathers, they made New England, they made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/i-think-different-societies-cultures-individuals-teams-of-people-make/) [Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/) > [I will make this world a better place, whether they like it or not. That’s the fun of being Queen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/i-will-make-this-world-a-better-place-whether-they-like-it-or-not/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [Of all follies there is none greater than wanting to make the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/of-all-follies-there-is-none-greater-than-wanting-to-make-the-world-a/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Find what it is you love to do and do it well. Make the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keter-betts/find-what-it-is-you-love-to-do-and-do-it-well-make-the-world-a-better/) Keter Betts > [We must sacrifice something in order to make the world better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payam-akhavan/we-must-sacrifice-something-in-order-to-make-the-world-better/) [Payam Akhavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/payam-akhavan/) > [I just wanna make the world a better-looking place. If you don't like it, you can paint over it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/i-just-wanna-make-the-world-a-better-looking-place-if-you-don-t-like/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Make the world better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-stone/make-the-world-better/) [Lucy Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-stone/) > [What man is a man, who does not make the world better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-man-is-a-man-who-does-not-make-the-world-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You need a lot of different types of people to make the world better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-louis/you-need-a-lot-of-different-types-of-people-to-make-the-world-better/) [Joe Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-louis/) > [In a hundred years, how do you want the world to be? Everybody should get together to make the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/in-a-hundred-years-how-do-you-want-the-world-to-be-everybody-should/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) ## 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 Better place quotes > [Angela Merkel has been focused on the right things. She has focused on the interests of her citizens - and not just in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/angela-merkel-has-been-focused-on-the-right-things-she-has-focused-on/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [Business school graduates from the best schools earn large salaries and frequently rise to positions of great power. It would be nice if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/business-school-graduates-from-the-best-schools-earn-large-salaries/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Rosalind. Well, this is the forest of Arden. Touchstone. Ay, now am I in Arden, the more fool I. When I was at home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/rosalind-well-this-is-the-forest-of-arden-touchstone-ay-now-am-i-in/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“The gifts and the lessons my father left me will last forever: Never take yourself too seriously, never miss a chance to laugh long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-serling/the-gifts-and-the-lessons-my-father-left-me-will-last-forever-never/) Anne Serling > [It is our job to make a difference and leave the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karol-g/it-is-our-job-to-make-a-difference-and-leave-the-world-a-better-place/) [Karol G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karol-g/) > [“The world is indeed a better place when there is love, friendship, acceptance and hope. Powered by these you can indeed overcome anything including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preeti-shenoy/the-world-is-indeed-a-better-place-when-there-is-love-friendship/) [Preeti Shenoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preeti-shenoy/) > [I think I just want to leave my mark in some way. I hope I leave the world a better place than it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/i-think-i-just-want-to-leave-my-mark-in-some-way-i-hope-i-leave-the/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [Art is not necessary at all. All that is necessary to make this world a better place to live in is to love -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadora-duncan/art-is-not-necessary-at-all-all-that-is-necessary-to-make-this-world/) [Isadora Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isadora-duncan/) > [We will strive to make Taiwan a better place and enable our people to live better lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-shui-bian/we-will-strive-to-make-taiwan-a-better-place-and-enable-our-people-to/) [Chen Shui-bian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-shui-bian/) > [It gives me such hope that each one of us can contribute to make this world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agapi-stassinopoulos/it-gives-me-such-hope-that-each-one-of-us-can-contribute-to-make-this/) [Agapi Stassinopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agapi-stassinopoulos/) > [I want MIT to be the dream of every child who wants to grow up to make the world a better place. We need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-hockfield/i-want-mit-to-be-the-dream-of-every-child-who-wants-to-grow-up-to/) [Susan Hockfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-hockfield/) > [“Pets make the world a better place to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-lyons/pets-make-the-world-a-better-place-to-live/) Susan Lyons > [I've made this conscious decision to tell people on the street when I think they're wearing something great. If more people did that, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-jensen/i-ve-made-this-conscious-decision-to-tell-people-on-the-street-when-i/) [Ashley Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-jensen/) > [From the world wars of Europe to the jungles of the Far East, from the deserts of the Middle East to the African continent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hoeven/from-the-world-wars-of-europe-to-the-jungles-of-the-far-east-from-the/) [John Hoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hoeven/) > [Moreover, from reforming the tax code to our immigration system, to commonsense legal reform, President Bush put America on notice that he will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/moreover-from-reforming-the-tax-code-to-our-immigration-system-to/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) [Browse all 1,302 Better place quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-place/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do you think you can make the world a better place? 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