--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking…" description: "\"Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish - don't overdo it.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/laozi-147_cooking_rule-a-kingdom-as-though-you-were-cookin_2882294.jpg" --- # Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish… ![“Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish - don't overdo it.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/laozi-147_cooking_rule-a-kingdom-as-though-you-were-cookin_2882294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/laozi-147_cooking_rule-a-kingdom-as-though-you-were-cookin_2882294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/laozi-147_cooking_rule-a-kingdom-as-though-you-were-cookin_2882294.jpg) > “Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish - don't overdo it.” [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. Govern with restraint and simplicity, avoiding excessive control, much like cooking a small fish gently. **In simple terms:** Rule gently, avoid over‑controlling. Key Takeaway Practice modest, measured leadership. Themes leadership humility simplicity balance Mood calm wise Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - management - government - team leadership - personal conduct Key Concepts Taoist philosophy political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders stay humble yet effective? - When is firm action necessary? A Different Perspective Over‑simplicity may ignore complex problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) [Cooking Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking-small-4000787/) [Fishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishes/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom/) [Kingdom Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-cooking-4000786/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Overdoing it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overdoing-it/) [Rule Kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-kingdom-764119/) [Small fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-fish/) ## Related quotes > [Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish, too much handling will spoil it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/governing-a-great-nation-is-like-cooking-a-small-fish-too-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Let the son of a king be a king, I will rule them in their kingdom”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/let-the-son-of-a-king-be-a-king-i-will-rule-them-in-their-kingdom/) [Dr.P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/whether-we-like-it-or-not-asking-is-the-rule-of-the-kingdom/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“It was hard work to rule a kingdom, much less seven of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/it-was-hard-work-to-rule-a-kingdom-much-less-seven-of-them/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Ruling a large kingdom is like cooking a small fish...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tse/ruling-a-large-kingdom-is-like-cooking-a-small-fish/) [Lao Tse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tse/) > [I may not be a king . But your the queen of my empire . And your just perfect to be my queen .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-fahad/i-may-not-be-a-king-but-your-the-queen-of-my-empire-and-your-just/) [Mohammed Fahad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-fahad/) > [Our love will rule in this kingdom we have made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/our-love-will-rule-in-this-kingdom-we-have-made/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Governing a large state is like boiling a small fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/governing-a-large-state-is-like-boiling-a-small-fish/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking. Center your country in the Tao and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/governing-a-large-country-is-like-frying-a-small-fish-you-spoil-it-2/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [You should rule a great country As you would fry a small fish- With the least turning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/you-should-rule-a-great-country-as-you-would-fry-a-small-fish-with/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/governing-a-large-country-is-like-frying-a-small-fish-you-spoil-it/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [We killed 6 innocent people, launching 22, I think $3 million apiece missiles on Baghdad...that's a little bit overdoing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/we-killed-6-innocent-people-launching-22-i-think-3-million-apiece/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [“A good practice carried to an extreme and worked in accordance with the letter of the law becomes a positive evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/a-good-practice-carried-to-an-extreme-and-worked-in-accordance-with/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [One of the most influential women of the 20th century? Well, that may be overdoing it. When one thinks of really influential women, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-rusher/one-of-the-most-influential-women-of-the-20th-century-well-that-may/) [William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-rusher/) > [I wish I were better at straightforward description. I feel like I'm usually overdoing it or underdoing it, and it takes a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-grodstein/i-wish-i-were-better-at-straightforward-description-i-feel-like-i-m/) [Lauren Grodstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-grodstein/) ## 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 Cooking quotes > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [I enjoy cooking, but stick to modern dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/i-enjoy-cooking-but-stick-to-modern-dishes/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [A man accustomed to American food and American domestic cookery would not starve to death suddenly in Europe, but I think he would gradually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-man-accustomed-to-american-food-and-american-domestic-cookery-would/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“In the back of the fridge I checked out some stewed apples destined to fester. I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [My Mom always cooked healthy. Greek food lends itself to cooking healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-cora/my-mom-always-cooked-healthy-greek-food-lends-itself-to-cooking/) [Cat Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-cora/) > [Cooking brings me so much joy. I love everything, down to the execution of the plate to picking out fresh ingredients at the market.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/cooking-brings-me-so-much-joy-i-love-everything-down-to-the-execution/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [Recipes don't work unless you use your heart!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-jones/recipes-don-t-work-unless-you-use-your-heart/) [Dylan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-jones/) > [Cooking is 80 percent confidence, a skill best acquired starting from when the apron strings wrap around you twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/cooking-is-80-percent-confidence-a-skill-best-acquired-starting-from/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I have a great time cooking and eating Thai green chicken curry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-have-a-great-time-cooking-and-eating-thai-green-chicken-curry/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There are times when born hollandaise heads, as well as nouveaux turbot freaks and recherche escargotphiles alike crave the saignet abundance of a New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-greene/there-are-times-when-born-hollandaise-heads-as-well-as-nouveaux/) [Gael Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-greene/) > [Speaking of trust, ever since I wrote this book, 'Liespotting,' no one wants to meet me in person anymore - no, no, no, no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-meyer/speaking-of-trust-ever-since-i-wrote-this-book-liespotting-no-one/) [Pamela Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-meyer/) > [Balance is key in cooking - you want a little acid, a little sweet, a little savory - the flavors should be harmonious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simmons/balance-is-key-in-cooking-you-want-a-little-acid-a-little-sweet-a/) [Gail Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simmons/) > [A combination of the qualities of the scholar, the master cook, the painter, the gastronomer, the sportsman and the pantologist, assisted by the skill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ellwanger/a-combination-of-the-qualities-of-the-scholar-the-master-cook-the/) [George Ellwanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ellwanger/) [Browse all 2,937 Cooking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish - don't overdo it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laozi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/rule-a-kingdom-as-though-you-were-cooking-a-small-fish-don-t-overdo-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cooking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/rule-a-kingdom-as-though-you-were-cooking-a-small-fish-don-t-overdo-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/laozi-147_cooking_rule-a-kingdom-as-though-you-were-cookin_2882294.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/laozi-147_cooking_rule-a-kingdom-as-though-you-were-cookin_2882294.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/laozi-147_cooking_rule-a-kingdom-as-though-you-were-cookin_2882294.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish - don't overdo it.” — 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": "Rule a kingdom as though you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/rule-a-kingdom-as-though-you-were-cooking-a-small-fish-don-t-overdo-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/rule-a-kingdom-as-though-you-were-cooking-a-small-fish-don-t-overdo-it/#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 } } ] } ```