--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The sage never strives for the great, and…" description: "\"The sage never strives for the great, and thereby the great is achieved.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/laozi-147_sage_the-sage-never-strives-for-the-great-and_1272157.jpg" --- # The sage never strives for the great, and thereby the… ![“The sage never strives for the great, and thereby the great is achieved.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/laozi-147_sage_the-sage-never-strives-for-the-great-and_1272157.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/laozi-147_sage_the-sage-never-strives-for-the-great-and_1272157.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/laozi-147_sage_the-sage-never-strives-for-the-great-and_1272157.jpg) > “The sage never strives for the great, and thereby the great is achieved.” [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 greatness comes from humility and not forcing outcomes, allowing success to arise naturally. **In simple terms:** Greatness comes through humility. Key Takeaway Practice humility to let results follow. Themes humility greatness effortless achievement Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - team projects - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts Taoist philosophy non‑action (wu wei) natural order Questions to Reflect On - How can you support outcomes without forcing them? - When does humility become self‑neglect? A Different Perspective If you push too hard, you may create resistance and hinder the result. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sage/) [Strife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strife/) ## Related quotes > [You know, that's what every player strives to do is have a great career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesean-mccoy/you-know-that-s-what-every-player-strives-to-do-is-have-a-great-career/) [LeSean McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesean-mccoy/) > [I'm the type of person that always strives to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deshaun-watson/i-m-the-type-of-person-that-always-strives-to-be-great/) [Deshaun Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deshaun-watson/) > [Prepare for the difficult while it is still easy. Deal with the big while it is still small. Difficult undertakings have always started with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/prepare-for-the-difficult-while-it-is-still-easy-deal-with-the-big/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The sage never strives for greatness, and can therefore accomplish greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-sage-never-strives-for-greatness-and-can-therefore-accomplish/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/nothing-great-is-ever-achieved-without-much-enduring/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Never was anything great achieved without danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/never-was-anything-great-achieved-without-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nothing-great-was-ever-achieved-without-enthusiasm/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Nothing great was ever achieved without great work and great effort. 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Nothing great was ever achieved without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-great-and-commanding-movement-in-the-annals-of-the-world-is-due/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Goodness strives not, and therefore it is not rebuked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/goodness-strives-not-and-therefore-it-is-not-rebuked/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Way of Tao is this: It strives not, but conquers; It speaks not, but all is made clear; It summons not, but its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-way-of-tao-is-this-it-strives-not-but-conquers-it-speaks-not-but/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [When merit has been achieved, do not take it to yourself; for if you do not take it to yourself, it shall never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-merit-has-been-achieved-do-not-take-it-to-yourself-for-if-you-do/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [That which is achieved the most, still has the whole of its future yet to be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/that-which-is-achieved-the-most-still-has-the-whole-of-its-future-yet/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [When much virtue is achieved, nothing is not overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-much-virtue-is-achieved-nothing-is-not-overcome/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. 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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? 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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 Achieved quotes > [By the time you have no difficulties in your life, you have achieved Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brown/by-the-time-you-have-no-difficulties-in-your-life-you-have-achieved/) [Charles Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brown/) > [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [My decision was that after nearly three years at Celtic - with everything we'd achieved and the success we'd had on the pitch, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/my-decision-was-that-after-nearly-three-years-at-celtic-with/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [Now when I watch my films after 10 years, I realise what have I achieved? 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