--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the highest antiquity, the people did…" description: "\"In the highest antiquity, the people did not know that there were rulers. In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/laozi-147_age_in-the-highest-antiquity-the-people-did_1983865.jpg" --- # In the highest antiquity, the people did not know that… ![“In the highest antiquity, the people did not know that there were rulers. In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/laozi-147_age_in-the-highest-antiquity-the-people-did_1983865.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/laozi-147_age_in-the-highest-antiquity-the-people-did_1983865.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/laozi-147_age_in-the-highest-antiquity-the-people-did_1983865.jpg) > “In the highest antiquity, the people did not know that there were rulers. In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them.” [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. Describes the cyclical rise and fall of power, showing how societies shift from ignorance to reverence, fear, and contempt of rulers. **In simple terms:** Power cycles from unknown to despised. Key Takeaway Beware the corrupting cycle of authority. Themes politics history power dynamics human nature Mood cautionary reflective Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - Governance - leadership - social movements Key Concepts Cyclical history authority societal change Questions to Reflect On - Why do societies fear authority? - How can leaders avoid becoming despised? A Different Perspective May generalize complex historical contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Antiquity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antiquity/) [Antiquity People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antiquity-people-3402948/) [Despised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despised/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Highest Antiquity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest-antiquity-3402950/) [Know Rulers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-rulers-3402951/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rulers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rulers/) [Rulers Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rulers-age-3402949/) ## Related quotes > [“In the highest antiquity, (the people) did not know that there were (their rulers).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/in-the-highest-antiquity-the-people-did-not-know-that-there-were-2/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [From antiquity, people have recognized the connection between naming and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-miller/from-antiquity-people-have-recognized-the-connection-between-naming/) [Casey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-miller/) > [People know when they are being lied to, they know when their rulers are absurd, they know they do not love their chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/people-know-when-they-are-being-lied-to-they-know-when-their-rulers/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [From now back to antiquity, its (Tao's) name has not been lost. Thereby, see the origin of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/from-now-back-to-antiquity-its-tao-s-name-has-not-been-lost-thereby/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The best leaders are those their people hardly know exist. The next best is a leader who is loved and praised. Next comes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-best-leaders-are-those-their-people-hardly-know-exist-the-next/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The very highest is barely known. Then comes that which people know and love, Then that which is feared, Then that which is despised.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-very-highest-is-barely-known-then-comes-that-which-people-know/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The supreme rulers are hardly known by their subjects. The lesser are loved and praised. The even lesser are feared. The least are despised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-supreme-rulers-are-hardly-known-by-their-subjects-the-lesser-are/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In antiquity there was only silence. In the nineteenth century, with the invention of the machine, Noise was born. Today, Noise triumphs and reigns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-russolo/in-antiquity-there-was-only-silence-in-the-nineteenth-century-with/) [Luigi Russolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-russolo/) > [While the business of education in Europe consists in lectures upon the ruins of Palmyra and the antiquities of Herculaneum , or in disputes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/while-the-business-of-education-in-europe-consists-in-lectures-upon/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [“Since antiquity, men have defined themselves by those who are excluded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-robinson/since-antiquity-men-have-defined-themselves-by-those-who-are-excluded/) [Jim Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-robinson/) > [What subsists to-day by violence continues to-morrow by acquiescence and is perpetuated by tradition; till at last the hoary abuse shakes the gray hairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett/what-subsists-to-day-by-violence-continues-to-morrow-by-acquiescence/) [Edward Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett/) > [“A very long time ago, some 2.5 million years B.C., the mother of human species as we know it, our ultimate ancestor, appeared in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-f-cantor/a-very-long-time-ago-some-2-5-million-years-b-c-the-mother-of-human/) [Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-f-cantor/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Astrology is knocking at the gates of our universities: A Tübingen professor has switched over to astrology and a course on astrology was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/astrology-is-knocking-at-the-gates-of-our-universities-a-t-bingen/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [The clatter of a changing world is not pleasant, and those who have enjoyed the comforts and protection of the old order may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-clatter-of-a-changing-world-is-not-pleasant-and-those-who-have/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## 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 Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. 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Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the highest antiquity, the people did not know that there were rulers. In the next age they loved them and praised them. 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