--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fourth (of the four cardinal virtues)…" description: "\"The fourth (of the four cardinal virtues) is supportiveness: this manifests as service to others without expectation of reward. (Paraphrased: Such serv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/laozi-147_behavior_the-fourth-of-the-four-cardinal-virtues_1133380.jpg" --- # The fourth (of the four cardinal virtues) is… ![“The fourth (of the four cardinal virtues) is supportiveness: this manifests as service to others without expectation of reward. (Paraphrased: Such service is not a mere conforming to some external rule of behavior, but instead a manifestation of your original nature).” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/laozi-147_behavior_the-fourth-of-the-four-cardinal-virtues_1133380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/laozi-147_behavior_the-fourth-of-the-four-cardinal-virtues_1133380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/laozi-147_behavior_the-fourth-of-the-four-cardinal-virtues_1133380.jpg) > “The fourth (of the four cardinal virtues) is supportiveness: this manifests as service to others without expectation of reward. (Paraphrased: Such service is not a mere conforming to some external rule of behavior, but instead a manifestation of your original nature).” [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. Supportiveness is a cardinal virtue expressed as selfless service, reflecting one’s true nature rather than external expectations. **In simple terms:** Selfless service shows true nature. Key Takeaway Serve without seeking reward. Themes virtue service selflessness authenticity Mood compassionate reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - teamwork - leadership - community building Key Concepts Taoism virtue ethics intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure service remains selfless? - What internal values drive your willingness to help? A Different Perspective May become self‑serving if motives are unclear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Manifestation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifestation/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Service to others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service-to-others/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) ## Related quotes > [“Everyone suspects themselves of at least one of the cardinal virtues...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald-2/everyone-suspects-themselves-of-at-least-one-of-the-cardinal-virtues/) [F Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald-2/) > [No matter how accomplished one might be in any branch of learning or art, one would have to be condemned to hell, if on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-nosuke-akutagawa/no-matter-how-accomplished-one-might-be-in-any-branch-of-learning-or/) [Ryūnosuke Akutagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-nosuke-akutagawa/) > [The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-act-of-defending-any-of-the-cardinal-virtues-has-today-all-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/force-and-fraud-are-in-war-the-two-cardinal-virtues/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [The mature person perceives the fruitlessness of rigid, external methodologies; Remembering this, he keeps his attitude unstructured at all times and thus is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-mature-person-perceives-the-fruitlessness-of-rigid-external-2/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Three cardinal virtues of business: creativity, building community, practical realism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-malloch/three-cardinal-virtues-of-business-creativity-building-community/) [Ted Malloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-malloch/) > [Attention is the cardinal psychological virtue. 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Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [(The mature person) pours himself out in service to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-mature-person-pours-himself-out-in-service-to-others/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“Even the cardinal virtues cannot atone for half-cold entrées”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/even-the-cardinal-virtues-cannot-atone-for-half-cold-entr-es/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/every-one-suspects-himself-of-at-least-one-of-the-cardinal-virtues/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [The good four. 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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. 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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 Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. 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