--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Tao is infinite, eternal. Why is it…" description: "\"The Tao is infinite, eternal. Why is it eternal? It was never born; thus it can never die. Why is it infinite? It has no desires for itself; thus it is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/laozi-147_all-things_the-tao-is-infinite-eternal-why-is-it-et_595241.jpg" --- # The Tao is infinite, eternal. Why is it eternal? It was… ![“The Tao is infinite, eternal. Why is it eternal? It was never born; thus it can never die. Why is it infinite? It has no desires for itself; thus it is present for all beings. The Master stays behind; that is why she is ahead. She is detached from all things; that is why she is one with them…” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/laozi-147_all-things_the-tao-is-infinite-eternal-why-is-it-et_595241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/laozi-147_all-things_the-tao-is-infinite-eternal-why-is-it-et_595241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/laozi-147_all-things_the-tao-is-infinite-eternal-why-is-it-et_595241.jpg) > “The Tao is infinite, eternal. Why is it eternal? It was never born; thus it can never die. Why is it infinite? It has no desires for itself; thus it is present for all beings. The Master stays behind; that is why she is ahead. She is detached from all things; that is why she is one with them. Because she has let go of herself, she is perfectly fulfilled.” [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 Tao is boundless because it has no self‑interest; by letting go of ego, one becomes aligned with all. **In simple terms:** Let go of self‑interest to be one with everything. Key Takeaway Practice detachment and humility. Themes spirituality non‑attachment unity Mood calm contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - leadership - conflict resolution - creative collaboration Key Concepts Taoism emptiness self‑transcendence Questions to Reflect On - What does “letting go” mean in your life? - How can humility improve your relationships? A Different Perspective Detachment may be misinterpreted as apathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Heaven and earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-earth/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Tao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tao/) [Tao ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tao-ching/) ## Related quotes > ['I am that I am,' said the Eternal. The Eternal - it is the race. One in substance - undifferentiated. One in time -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadmi-cohen/i-am-that-i-am-said-the-eternal-the-eternal-it-is-the-race-one-in/) [Kadmi Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadmi-cohen/) > [“Nothing returns, nothing begins anew; it is never the same thing, and yet it seems always the same. 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Only if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-gustav-jung/the-decisive-question-for-man-is-is-he-related-to-something-infinite-4/) [Carl Gustav Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-gustav-jung/) > [Miracles are everywhere to be found When I surrender my infinite desires To my immortal aspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/miracles-are-everywhere-to-be-found-when-i-surrender-my-infinite/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [Your desires are immense, almost infinite. Because of your desires life becomes a competition, and wherever there is competition, there is anxiety and angst;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-desires-are-immense-almost-infinite-because-of-your-desires-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The decisive question for man is: Is he related to something infinite or not? That is the telling question of his life. Only if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-parti/the-decisive-question-for-man-is-is-he-related-to-something-infinite/) Rajiv Parti > [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/) > [Attending fully and becoming supple, Can you be as a newborn babe?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/attending-fully-and-becoming-supple-can-you-be-as-a-newborn-babe/) [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. He never expects results; thus he is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-master-s-power-is-like-this-he-lets-all-things-come-and-go/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The hard and stiff will be broken. 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/) > [The decisive question for man is: Is he related to something infinite or not? That is the telling question of his life. Only if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-decisive-question-for-man-is-is-he-related-to-something-infinite-5/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) ## 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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