--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more prohibitions you have, the less…" description: "\"The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be. The more subsidies you h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/laozi-147_people_the-more-prohibitions-you-have-the-less_1820788.jpg" --- # The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people… ![“The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be. The more subsidies you have, the less self reliant people will be.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/laozi-147_people_the-more-prohibitions-you-have-the-less_1820788.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/laozi-147_people_the-more-prohibitions-you-have-the-less_1820788.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/laozi-147_people_the-more-prohibitions-you-have-the-less_1820788.jpg) > “The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be. The more subsidies you have, the less self reliant people will be.” [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. Prohibitions, weapons, and subsidies reduce virtue, security, and self‑reliance, respectively. **In simple terms:** Restrictions and aid can weaken people. Key Takeaway Promote autonomy and responsibility. Themes freedom security self‑reliance virtue Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - policy making - community building - personal finance - education - defense planning Key Concepts political philosophy economics social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do rules affect personal virtue? - When is external support beneficial? A Different Perspective Some argue regulations protect society. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Subsidies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-subsidies-1138412/) [Prohibition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prohibition/) [Prohibitions Virtuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prohibitions-virtuous-2192701/) [Secure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secure/) [Secure People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secure-people-1355213/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self reliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-reliant/) [Subsidies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subsidies/) [Subsidies Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subsidies-self-2192702/) [Tao ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tao-ching/) [Tao te ching leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tao-te-ching-leadership/) [Virtuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuous/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Weapons Secure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-secure-2192703/) ## Related quotes > [The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-more-prohibitions-you-have-the-less-virtuous-people-will-be-try/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [At the very least, people who get subsidies should have to get up in the morning and do something, even if it's a make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/at-the-very-least-people-who-get-subsidies-should-have-to-get-up-in/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [“The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-te-ching/the-more-prohibitions-you-have-the-less-virtuous-people-will-be/) [Tao Te Ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-te-ching/) > [Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/care-about-people-s-approval-and-you-will-be-their-prisoner/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Trustable words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not trustable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/trustable-words-are-not-beautiful-beautiful-words-are-not-trustable/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. 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It has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-infinite-eternal-why-is-it-eternal-it-was-never-born-thus/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind; Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily; Sometimes there is strength and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/so-sometimes-things-are-ahead-and-sometimes-they-are-behind-sometimes/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth. The named is the mother of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-nameless-is-the-beginning-of-heaven-and-earth-the-named-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Master's power is like this. He lets all things come and go effortlessly, without desire. 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The soft and supple will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-hard-and-stiff-will-be-broken-the-soft-and-supple-will-prevail/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Knowing others is wisdom; Knowing the self is enlightenment; Mastering others requires force; Mastering the self needs strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/knowing-others-is-wisdom-knowing-the-self-is-enlightenment-mastering/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [If you want to accord with the Tao, just do your job, then let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-you-want-to-accord-with-the-tao-just-do-your-job-then-let-go/) [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. 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