--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Tao principle is what happens of…" description: "\"The Tao principle is what happens of itself.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e64/laozi-147_happens_the-tao-principle-is-what-happens-of-its_2271165.jpg" --- # The Tao principle is what happens of itself. ![“The Tao principle is what happens of itself.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e64/laozi-147_happens_the-tao-principle-is-what-happens-of-its_2271165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e64/laozi-147_happens_the-tao-principle-is-what-happens-of-its_2271165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e64/laozi-147_happens_the-tao-principle-is-what-happens-of-its_2271165.jpg) > “The Tao principle is what happens of itself.” [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 follows its natural course without forced effort, illustrating effortless action. **In simple terms:** The Tao works itself. Key Takeaway Embrace natural flow. Themes natural order effortless action philosophy Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - conflict resolution - creative projects Key Concepts Wu Wei spontaneity Questions to Reflect On - How can you align actions with natural tendencies? - When is intervention necessary? A Different Perspective May overlook the need for deliberate planning in complex tasks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Heaven and earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-earth/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Principle Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-happens-5264571/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Tao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tao/) [Tao Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tao-principle-4633881/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) ## Related quotes > [The Tao's principle is spontaneity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-s-principle-is-spontaneity/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Why is the tao so valuable? Because it is everywhere, and everyone can use it. This is why those who seek will find, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/why-is-the-tao-so-valuable-because-it-is-everywhere-and-everyone-can/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Tao of the sage is work without effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-of-the-sage-is-work-without-effort/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Tao is like a well; used but never used up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-like-a-well-used-but-never-used-up/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Yielding is the way of the Tao.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/yielding-is-the-way-of-the-tao/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Great Tao flows everywhere, to the left and to the right, all things depend on it to exist, and it does not abandon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-great-tao-flows-everywhere-to-the-left-and-to-the-right-all/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [It (Tao) is eternally without desire. So, it can be called small. All things return to it, although it does not make itself their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/it-tao-is-eternally-without-desire-so-it-can-be-called-small-all/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal Name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-that-can-be-told-is-not-the-eternal-tao-the-name-that-can-be/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [If princes and kings could follow it (Tao), all things would by themselves abide, Heaven and Earth would unite and sweet dew would fall.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-princes-and-kings-could-follow-it-tao-all-things-would-by/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Tao is told is not the Tao.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-told-is-not-the-tao/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The great Way is easy, yet people prefer the side paths. Be aware when things are out of balance. Stay centered within the Tao.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-great-way-is-easy-yet-people-prefer-the-side-paths-be-aware-when/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [According to Archimedes' principle, what happens when you jump in a bathtub full of water? Answer: The phone rings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/according-to-archimedes-principle-what-happens-when-you-jump-in-a/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Tao is beyond words and beyond things. It is not expressed either in word or in silence. Where there is no longer word or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/tao-is-beyond-words-and-beyond-things-it-is-not-expressed-either-in/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [The Tao is near and people seek it far away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/the-tao-is-near-and-people-seek-it-far-away/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Lao Tsu says the way of life is ancient, timeless. It is existence which he calls the Tao - a mysterious source, beyond understanding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/lao-tsu-says-the-way-of-life-is-ancient-timeless-it-is-existence/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## 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? 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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 Happens quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. 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I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [The amazing thing is that we live our lives with the hope that things will go right, that things will happen. And all along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/the-amazing-thing-is-that-we-live-our-lives-with-the-hope-that-things/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [This mind is a prison. It cannot find any freedom anywhere. It must die before freedom comes to you. 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