--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real is empty and the empty real" description: "\"The real is empty and the empty real\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/laozi-147_empty_the-real-is-empty-and-the-empty-real-130_1304735.jpg" --- # The real is empty and the empty real ![“The real is empty and the empty real” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/laozi-147_empty_the-real-is-empty-and-the-empty-real-130_1304735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/laozi-147_empty_the-real-is-empty-and-the-empty-real-130_1304735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/laozi-147_empty_the-real-is-empty-and-the-empty-real-130_1304735.jpg) > “The real is empty and the empty real” [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. The essence of reality is void, and what we perceive as empty is itself a form of reality. **In simple terms:** Reality and emptiness are intertwined. Key Takeaway Recognize value in both presence and absence. Themes philosophy existence duality Mood contemplative neutral Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - meditation - creative work - problem solving - spiritual practice Key Concepts Taoism emptiness perception Questions to Reflect On - How does embracing emptiness change your view of success? - What does “real” mean to you? A Different Perspective It may be misinterpreted as nihilism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“If you believe it, is it real, or is it real because you believe it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-mckevitt/if-you-believe-it-is-it-real-or-is-it-real-because-you-believe-it/) Virginia McKevitt > [We take that which is unreal to be real and that which is real to be unreal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-spira/we-take-that-which-is-unreal-to-be-real-and-that-which-is-real-to-be/) [Rupert Spira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-spira/) > [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/) > [Stay real and all real things will come to you ,stay fake and all the plastic will come to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/stay-real-and-all-real-things-will-come-to-you-stay-fake-and-all-the/) Frenchqueen > [“Is it real? No, it is not real. What is this not real? Not real can tell us about real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/is-it-real-no-it-is-not-real-what-is-this-not-real-not-real-can-tell/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Keeping it real in real estate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-allan/keeping-it-real-in-real-estate/) Marc Allan > [Honestly, I always believed in myself. For real, for real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bad-bunny/honestly-i-always-believed-in-myself-for-real-for-real/) [Bad Bunny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bad-bunny/) > [Get real or get REAL!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ponce/get-real-or-get-real/) Mary Ponce > [“Real G's do real things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fat-joe/real-g-s-do-real-things/) [Fat Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fat-joe/) > [There is a generation begging for you to be real... and to be real now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-wheaton/there-is-a-generation-begging-for-you-to-be-real-and-to-be-real-now/) [Karen Wheaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-wheaton/) > [Always keep it Real with yourself no matter what because if you can't be real with yourself how can you ever be real any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-myers-jr/always-keep-it-real-with-yourself-no-matter-what-because-if-you-can-t/) [Michael Myers Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-myers-jr/) > [“Some people are too good to be real; I'm too real to be good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-childers/some-people-are-too-good-to-be-real-i-m-too-real-to-be-good/) Mary Childers > [Kept it real with you so keep it real with me. See there ain't no love if you don't trust me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/kept-it-real-with-you-so-keep-it-real-with-me-see-there-ain-t-no-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As real as real is I'm realer.!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/as-real-as-real-is-i-m-realer/) Author Name > [What is reasonable is real; that which is real is reasonable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/what-is-reasonable-is-real-that-which-is-real-is-reasonable/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) ## 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 Empty quotes > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [No sane local official who has hung up an empty stocking over the municipal fireplace is going to shoot Santa Claus just before a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-smith/no-sane-local-official-who-has-hung-up-an-empty-stocking-over-the/) [Al Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-smith/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!” “Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/joe-he-groaned-attempting-to-speak-clearly-joe-good-ol-joe-captain/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [Why chase after thoughts, which are superficial ripples of present awareness? Rather look directly into the naked, empty nature of thoughts; then there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamgon-kongtrul/why-chase-after-thoughts-which-are-superficial-ripples-of-present/) Jamgon Kongtrul > [Education turns an empty mind into an open mind. It turns information into behavioural transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-khera/education-turns-an-empty-mind-into-an-open-mind-it-turns-information/) [Shiv Khera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-khera/) > [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/) > [Our real nature is not our imaginary, limited ego. Our true nature is vast, all-comprehensive, and intangible as empty space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anagarika-govinda/our-real-nature-is-not-our-imaginary-limited-ego-our-true-nature-is/) [Anagarika Govinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anagarika-govinda/) > [Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/adults-look-upon-a-child-as-something-empty-that-is-to-be-filled/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [I don't see the future as bright, language-wise. I see it as a glass half empty - and evaporating quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/i-don-t-see-the-future-as-bright-language-wise-i-see-it-as-a-glass/) [Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/) > [I get letters every year from women who think Valentine's Day is an empty exercise, but are ironically pretty exercised when their boyfriends neglect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/i-get-letters-every-year-from-women-who-think-valentine-s-day-is-an/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) Browse all 3,081 Empty quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The real is empty and the empty real", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laozi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-real-is-empty-and-the-empty-real/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Empty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-real-is-empty-and-the-empty-real/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/laozi-147_empty_the-real-is-empty-and-the-empty-real-130_1304735.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/laozi-147_empty_the-real-is-empty-and-the-empty-real-130_1304735.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/laozi-147_empty_the-real-is-empty-and-the-empty-real-130_1304735.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The real is empty and the empty real” — 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 real is empty and the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-real-is-empty-and-the-empty-real/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-real-is-empty-and-the-empty-real/#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 } } ] } ```