--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Returning to the source is stillness…" description: "\"Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. The way of nature is unchanging. Knowing constancy is insight.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/laozi-147_constancy_returning-to-the-source-is-stillness-whi_1438072.jpg" --- # Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of… ![“Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. The way of nature is unchanging. Knowing constancy is insight.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/laozi-147_constancy_returning-to-the-source-is-stillness-whi_1438072.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/laozi-147_constancy_returning-to-the-source-is-stillness-whi_1438072.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/laozi-147_constancy_returning-to-the-source-is-stillness-whi_1438072.jpg) > “Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. The way of nature is unchanging. Knowing constancy is insight.” [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. Returning to the origin brings stillness, reflecting nature’s unchanging way; understanding constancy yields insight. **In simple terms:** Stillness comes from aligning with nature’s constancy. Key Takeaway Seek inner stillness through constancy. Themes nature stillness philosophy Mood calm reflective Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation practice - nature immersion - daily reflection Key Concepts Taoism impermanence mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does constancy guide daily decisions? - Can stillness coexist with action? A Different Perspective Stillness alone may not solve active problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constancy/) [Insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Unchanging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-unchanging-1075508/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Source Stillness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source-stillness-1333714/) [Stillness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stillness/) [Stillness Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stillness-way-1333713/) [Tao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tao/) [Unchanging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unchanging/) [Unchanging Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unchanging-knowing-5139194/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Empty yourself of everything. Let the mind become still. The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches their return. They grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/empty-yourself-of-everything-let-the-mind-become-still-the-ten/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“Empty yourself of everything,” he said. “Let your mind rest at peace. Ten thousand things rise and fall while the self watches. They grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/empty-yourself-of-everything-he-said-let-your-mind-rest-at-peace-ten/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [In all of my universe I have seen no law of nature, unchanging and inexorable. This universe presents only changing relationships which are sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/in-all-of-my-universe-i-have-seen-no-law-of-nature-unchanging-and/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Returning to the source is stillness. It is returning to one's fate. Returning to one's fate is eternal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/returning-to-the-source-is-stillness-it-is-returning-to-one-s-fate/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“The source of stillness is in emptiness. All things and the changes they go through are but temporary conditions, which finally return to nothingness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-kaiguo/the-source-of-stillness-is-in-emptiness-all-things-and-the-changes/) [Chen Kaiguo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-kaiguo/) > [Green thoughts emerge from some deep source of stillness which the very fact of winter has released.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirabel-osler/green-thoughts-emerge-from-some-deep-source-of-stillness-which-the/) [Mirabel Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirabel-osler/) > [When the ice of winter holds the house in its rigid grip, when curtains are drawn against that vast frozen waste of landscape, almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirabel-osler/when-the-ice-of-winter-holds-the-house-in-its-rigid-grip-when/) [Mirabel Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirabel-osler/) > [When you accurately perceive the fluidity of things, you can also begin to perceive the constancy behind them: the creative, transformative, boundless, immutable Tao.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-accurately-perceive-the-fluidity-of-things-you-can-also/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Knowing constancy, the mind is open. With an open mind, you will be openhearted. Being openhearted you will act royally. Being royal, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/knowing-constancy-the-mind-is-open-with-an-open-mind-you-will-be/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [There was something formless and perfect before the universe was born. It is serene. Empty. Solitary. Unchanging. Infinite. Eternally present. It is the mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/there-was-something-formless-and-perfect-before-the-universe-was-born/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The fickleness of the women I love is only equalled by the infernal constancy of the women who love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-fickleness-of-the-women-i-love-is-only-equalled-by-the-infernal/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The word "hope" I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-word-hope-i-take-for-faith-and-indeed-hope-is-nothing-else-but/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [I was always anti-marriage. I didn't understand monogamy. I couldn't figure out how that could last. And then I met Bryn and I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bello/i-was-always-anti-marriage-i-didn-t-understand-monogamy-i-couldn-t/) [Maria Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bello/) ## 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 Constancy quotes > [I was always anti-marriage. I didn't understand monogamy. I couldn't figure out how that could last. And then I met Bryn and I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bello/i-was-always-anti-marriage-i-didn-t-understand-monogamy-i-couldn-t/) [Maria Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bello/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The word "hope" I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-word-hope-i-take-for-faith-and-indeed-hope-is-nothing-else-but/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The fickleness of the women I love is only equalled by the infernal constancy of the women who love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-fickleness-of-the-women-i-love-is-only-equalled-by-the-infernal/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [By the disposition of a stupendous wisdom, moulding together the great mysterious incorporation of the human race, the whole, at one time, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/by-the-disposition-of-a-stupendous-wisdom-moulding-together-the-great/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Even gods decay. Like, in 1890 somebody sold off thousands of mummified Ancient Egyptian sacred cats - \_for fertilizer\_. Get the point? Constancy isn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gash/even-gods-decay-like-in-1890-somebody-sold-off-thousands-of-mummified/) [Jonathan Gash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gash/) > [Prayer is the pulse of the renewed soul; and the constancy of its beat is the test and measure of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavius-winslow/prayer-is-the-pulse-of-the-renewed-soul-and-the-constancy-of-its-beat/) [Octavius Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavius-winslow/) > [To grasp life and meaning, we assume constancy where it does not exist. We name experiences, emotions, and subjective states and assume that what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-grasp-life-and-meaning-we-assume-constancy-where-it-does-not-exist/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Feeling the security and constancy of love from a spouse, a parent or a child is a rich blessing. Such love nurtures and sustains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/feeling-the-security-and-constancy-of-love-from-a-spouse-a-parent-or/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [But keeping secrets is a discipline. I never use to think of myself as a good liar, but after having had some practice I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/but-keeping-secrets-is-a-discipline-i-never-use-to-think-of-myself-as/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [Constancy does not begin, but is that which perseveres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/constancy-does-not-begin-but-is-that-which-perseveres/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“The secret to success is constancy of purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-secret-to-success-is-constancy-of-purpose/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Whatever is genuine in social relations endures, despite of time, error, absence, and destiny; and that which has no inherent vitality had better die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-theodore-tuckerman/whatever-is-genuine-in-social-relations-endures-despite-of-time-error/) [Henry Theodore Tuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-theodore-tuckerman/) > [“Not by fitful efforts, but by constancy, is an end secured. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wortabet/not-by-fitful-efforts-but-by-constancy-is-an-end-secured-the/) [John Wortabet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wortabet/) [Browse all 196 Constancy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constancy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. The way of nature is unchanging. 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