--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who would take over the earth and…" description: "\"Those who would take over the earth and shape it to their will, never, I notice succeed.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/laozi-147_earth_those-who-would-take-over-the-earth-and_1087597.jpg" --- # Those who would take over the earth and shape it to their… ![“Those who would take over the earth and shape it to their will, never, I notice succeed.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/laozi-147_earth_those-who-would-take-over-the-earth-and_1087597.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/laozi-147_earth_those-who-would-take-over-the-earth-and_1087597.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/laozi-147_earth_those-who-would-take-over-the-earth-and_1087597.jpg) > “Those who would take over the earth and shape it to their will, never, I notice succeed.” [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. Attempts to dominate nature and reshape it to personal will often fail; humility aligns with natural order. **In simple terms:** Domination fails; humility succeeds. Key Takeaway Embrace humility, work with nature. Themes humility nature power control Mood reflective serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - sustainability - personal growth Key Concepts Taoist philosophy environmental ethics Questions to Reflect On - What does humility look like in your life? - How can you align goals with natural processes? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can cause collapse; external forces may limit control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Earth Shape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth-shape-2794955/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Notice Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notice-succeed-2794956/) [Shape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shape/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of people notice when you succeed, but they don't see what it takes to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/a-lot-of-people-notice-when-you-succeed-but-they-don-t-see-what-it/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I saw for the first time the earth's shape. I could easily see the shores of continents, islands, great rivers, folds of the terrain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuri-gagarin/i-saw-for-the-first-time-the-earth-s-shape-i-could-easily-see-the/) [Yuri Gagarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuri-gagarin/) > [“The village that voted the earth was flat doubtless modified its own behavior and its system of physics accordingly, but its vote did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-village-that-voted-the-earth-was-flat-doubtless-modified-its-own/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [When we can't see a pattern, we fit pieces together until one takes shape, because we have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/when-we-can-t-see-a-pattern-we-fit-pieces-together-until-one-takes/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [People don't want drama 365 days a year. 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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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Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. 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Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. 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