--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest virtue is to follow the Way…" description: "\"The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/laozi-147_character_the-greatest-virtue-is-to-follow-the-way_1455303.jpg" --- # The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly. ![“The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/laozi-147_character_the-greatest-virtue-is-to-follow-the-way_1455303.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/laozi-147_character_the-greatest-virtue-is-to-follow-the-way_1455303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/laozi-147_character_the-greatest-virtue-is-to-follow-the-way_1455303.jpg) > “The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly.” [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. True virtue lies in fully embracing the natural order and path. **In simple terms:** Virtue is following the natural way. Key Takeaway Align actions with the natural flow. Themes virtue Dao natural order spirituality Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - daily routines - leadership decisions - conflict resolution - personal health Key Concepts philosophy ethics inner harmony Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance following the Way with adapting to change? - What does the Way mean in your life? A Different Perspective Strict adherence may ignore necessary change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Follow the way of virtue. Follow the way joyfully through this world and on beyond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/follow-the-way-of-virtue-follow-the-way-joyfully-through-this-world/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Most men admire Virtue who follow not her lore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/most-men-admire-virtue-who-follow-not-her-lore/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“They say, love God, for it is the greatest virtue. I say, love humans, for there is no greater virtue, no greater religion, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/they-say-love-god-for-it-is-the-greatest-virtue-i-say-love-humans-for/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I would follow you But see the way my account is set up. . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-crockett/i-would-follow-you-but-see-the-way-my-account-is-set-up/) [Deon Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-crockett/) > [Do something. Either lead, follow or get out of the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/do-something-either-lead-follow-or-get-out-of-the-way/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [I follow the way people change. I follow the way people, who are very antagonized to one another become very close to one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/i-follow-the-way-people-change-i-follow-the-way-people-who-are-very/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Three thing must follow You,Your way,Your Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/three-thing-must-follow-you-your-way-your-faith/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do you hear what the music is saying? 'Come follow me and you will find the way. Your mistakes can also lead you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/do-you-hear-what-the-music-is-saying-come-follow-me-and-you-will-find/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Sometimes you need to run to an unknown place just to see who will follow behind.. that way you'll know where you belong in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megannn/sometimes-you-need-to-run-to-an-unknown-place-just-to-see-who-will/) Megannn > [Follow that will and that way which experience confirms to be your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/follow-that-will-and-that-way-which-experience-confirms-to-be-your-own/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/lead-me-follow-me-or-get-out-of-my-way/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Life will follow, it is up to me to show the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/life-will-follow-it-is-up-to-me-to-show-the-way/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [“Be inspired by others' ways, but don't follow others' ways; create your own way, follow your own way!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/be-inspired-by-others-ways-but-don-t-follow-others-ways-create-your/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## 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 Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laozi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-greatest-virtue-is-to-follow-the-way-utterly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-greatest-virtue-is-to-follow-the-way-utterly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/laozi-147_character_the-greatest-virtue-is-to-follow-the-way_1455303.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/laozi-147_character_the-greatest-virtue-is-to-follow-the-way_1455303.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/laozi-147_character_the-greatest-virtue-is-to-follow-the-way_1455303.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The greatest virtue is to follow the Way utterly.” — 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": "The greatest virtue is to follow...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-greatest-virtue-is-to-follow-the-way-utterly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-greatest-virtue-is-to-follow-the-way-utterly/#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 } } ] } ```