--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not praising the deserving prevents envy." description: "\"Not praising the deserving prevents envy.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/laozi-147_deserving_not-praising-the-deserving-prevents-envy_2316447.jpg" --- # Not praising the deserving prevents envy. ![“Not praising the deserving prevents envy.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/laozi-147_deserving_not-praising-the-deserving-prevents-envy_2316447.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/laozi-147_deserving_not-praising-the-deserving-prevents-envy_2316447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/laozi-147_deserving_not-praising-the-deserving-prevents-envy_2316447.jpg) > “Not praising the deserving prevents envy.” [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. If you fail to acknowledge those who deserve praise, you foster jealousy and resentment. **In simple terms:** Not praising the deserving breeds envy. Key Takeaway Give credit where it’s due. Themes recognition envy morality Mood thoughtful calm Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - public acknowledgments - award ceremonies - peer feedback Key Concepts ethical leadership social harmony psychology Questions to Reflect On - Who deserves recognition today? - How can praise be given sincerely? A Different Perspective Over‑praising can also create dependency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deserving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserving/) [Deserving Prevents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserving-prevents-5521380/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Jealousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Praising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praising/) [Praising Deserving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praising-deserving-5521379/) [Prevents Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevents-envy-5521378/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) ## Related quotes > [The first practice is the practice of undiscriminating virtue: take care of those who are deserving; also, and equally, take care of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-first-practice-is-the-practice-of-undiscriminating-virtue-take/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Why is the tao so valuable? Because it is everywhere, and everyone can use it. This is why those who seek will find, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/why-is-the-tao-so-valuable-because-it-is-everywhere-and-everyone-can/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [That which offers no resistance can enter where there is no space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/that-which-offers-no-resistance-can-enter-where-there-is-no-space/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In the world there are four greats, and the king is one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-the-world-there-are-four-greats-and-the-king-is-one-of-them/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Cultivate virtue in yourself, and it will be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/cultivate-virtue-in-yourself-and-it-will-be-true/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The brittle is easy to shatter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-brittle-is-easy-to-shatter/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What people loathe the most is to be orphaned, desolate, unworthy. But this is what princes and kings call themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-people-loathe-the-most-is-to-be-orphaned-desolate-unworthy-but/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [People take death lightly. They expect too much of life. That is why people take death lightly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/people-take-death-lightly-they-expect-too-much-of-life-that-is-why/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## 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 Deserving quotes > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Military caregivers play an essential role in the recovery process of our veterans and are more than deserving of our support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/military-caregivers-play-an-essential-role-in-the-recovery-process-of/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [No, no, football doesn't understand about 'deserving' something. You have to grab it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodri/no-no-football-doesn-t-understand-about-deserving-something-you-have/) [Rodri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodri/) > [I was asked the other day if I would be interested in the Nobel Prize, but I think that for me it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/i-was-asked-the-other-day-if-i-would-be-interested-in-the-nobel-prize/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [The legislature have anxiously provided for those most useful and deserving body of men, the seamen and marines of this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-legislature-have-anxiously-provided-for-those-most-useful-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“having patience always gives you what you deserve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatma-alfalasi/having-patience-always-gives-you-what-you-deserve/) [Fatma Alfalasi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatma-alfalasi/) > [I do firmly believe that universal forces are at work that pull us inexorably toward the deserving results of our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ringer/i-do-firmly-believe-that-universal-forces-are-at-work-that-pull-us/) [Robert Ringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ringer/) > [We are all deserving of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/we-are-all-deserving-of-love/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Do it the hard way! Think ahead of your job. Then nothing in the world can keep the job ahead from reaching out for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlow-curtice/do-it-the-hard-way-think-ahead-of-your-job-then-nothing-in-the-world/) [Harlow Curtice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlow-curtice/) > [Im not single. Im not taken. Im simply reserved, for the one who fits the word deserving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laine/im-not-single-im-not-taken-im-simply-reserved-for-the-one-who-fits/) [Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laine/) > [Lil Wayne is a person who I think is really deserving of the success he's had. I'm someone who can stay in the studio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-elliot/lil-wayne-is-a-person-who-i-think-is-really-deserving-of-the-success/) [Missy Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-elliot/) > [Is Fate getting what you deserve, or deserving what you get?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/is-fate-getting-what-you-deserve-or-deserving-what-you-get/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Few needs are more pressing, or more deserving of our attention, than taking care of the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/few-needs-are-more-pressing-or-more-deserving-of-our-attention-than/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [Love is willing self-sacrifice for the good of another that does not require reciprocation or that the person being loved is deserving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/love-is-willing-self-sacrifice-for-the-good-of-another-that-does-not/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) [Browse all 385 Deserving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Not praising the deserving prevents envy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laozi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/not-praising-the-deserving-prevents-envy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deserving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/not-praising-the-deserving-prevents-envy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/laozi-147_deserving_not-praising-the-deserving-prevents-envy_2316447.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/laozi-147_deserving_not-praising-the-deserving-prevents-envy_2316447.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f40/laozi-147_deserving_not-praising-the-deserving-prevents-envy_2316447.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not praising the deserving prevents envy.” — 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": "Not praising the deserving prevents envy.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/not-praising-the-deserving-prevents-envy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/not-praising-the-deserving-prevents-envy/#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 } } ] } ```