--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Throw away holiness and wisdom, and…" description: "\"Throw away holiness and wisdom, and people will be a hundred times happier. Throw away morality and justice, and people will do the right thing. Throw ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/laozi-147_all-things_throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-peopl_1805454.jpg" --- # Throw away holiness and wisdom, and people will be a… ![“Throw away holiness and wisdom, and people will be a hundred times happier. Throw away morality and justice, and people will do the right thing. Throw away industry and profit, and there won't be any thieves. If these three aren't enough, just stay at the center of the circle and let all things…” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/laozi-147_all-things_throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-peopl_1805454.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/laozi-147_all-things_throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-peopl_1805454.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/laozi-147_all-things_throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-peopl_1805454.jpg) > “Throw away holiness and wisdom, and people will be a hundred times happier. Throw away morality and justice, and people will do the right thing. Throw away industry and profit, and there won't be any thieves. If these three aren't enough, just stay at the center of the circle and let all things take their course.” [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. Abandoning conventional virtues may seem to bring happiness, but true harmony arises from balance, not neglect. **In simple terms:** Happiness claimed by dropping values. Key Takeaway Seek balance, not extremes. Themes harmony balance virtue contentment Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal relationships - social policy - ethical debates Key Concepts Taoism ethical relativism Questions to Reflect On - What values are essential for a flourishing society? - How does balance differ from abandonment? A Different Perspective Neglecting morality can erode trust and social cohesion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) [Away Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away-morality-2069439/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-justice-2029993/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Throw Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throw-away/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [The masters have been done away with; the morality of the common man has triumphed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-masters-have-been-done-away-with-the-morality-of-the-common-man/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Throw away profit and greed, and there won't be any thieves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-won-t-be-any-thieves/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [A government for the people must depend for its success on the intelligence, the morality, the justice, and the interest of the people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/a-government-for-the-people-must-depend-for-its-success-on-the/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Science without discrimination Human existence without discipline Friendship without gratitude Music without melody A society without morality and justice Cannot be of benefit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sai-baba/science-without-discrimination-human-existence-without-discipline/) [Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sai-baba/) > [Throw away sacredness and wisdom and people will be one hundred times happier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/throw-away-sacredness-and-wisdom-and-people-will-be-one-hundred-times/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Israel, and you who call yourself Israel, the Church that calls itself Israel, and the revolt that calls itself Israel, and every nation chosen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/israel-and-you-who-call-yourself-israel-the-church-that-calls-itself/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [Once upon a time a man whose ax was missing suspected his neighbor's son. The boy walked like a thief, looked like a thief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/once-upon-a-time-a-man-whose-ax-was-missing-suspected-his-neighbor-s/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Abandon cleverness, discard profit, and thieves and robbers will disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/abandon-cleverness-discard-profit-and-thieves-and-robbers-will/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The more prohibitions there are, the poorer the people will be. The more laws are promulgated, the more thieves and bandits there will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-more-prohibitions-there-are-the-poorer-the-people-will-be-the/) [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/) > [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/) > [“I'm going to grab hold of this night and crack it open, eat the fruit right out of the middle, and throw away the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tharp/i-m-going-to-grab-hold-of-this-night-and-crack-it-open-eat-the-fruit/) [Tim Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tharp/) > [To be innocent is to bear the weight of the entire universe. It is to throw away the counterweight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/to-be-innocent-is-to-bear-the-weight-of-the-entire-universe-it-is-to/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [I threw away my phone I thought that you should know I'd throw away my home If I had somewhere to go Anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-simpson/i-threw-away-my-phone-i-thought-that-you-should-know-i-d-throw-away/) [Ashlee Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-simpson/) > [Simon had been all lined up and he’d managed to throw away the best girl he’d ever meet. “What a dumbass,” Beck muttered. “No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/simon-had-been-all-lined-up-and-he-d-managed-to-throw-away-the-best/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) ## 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 All things quotes > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [Dear God, I trust that no matter what happens in my life, it is for my highest good. And no matter what happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/dear-god-i-trust-that-no-matter-what-happens-in-my-life-it-is-for-my/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Moderation, honey, in all things but love and chocolate. That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/) [Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/) > [The eternal principle, which never was born, never will die: it is in all things: it is in you now. You are the wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-eternal-principle-which-never-was-born-never-will-die-it-is-in/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The U.S. Army has recently removed the cross from the insignia worn by chaplains. In its place is a sun with its rays, symbolizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/the-u-s-army-has-recently-removed-the-cross-from-the-insignia-worn-by/) [Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/) > [...God does not possess a private knowledge of Himself and a separate knowledge of all the creatures in common. The universal Cause, by knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-does-not-possess-a-private-knowledge-of-himself-and-a-separate/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) [Browse all 2,486 All things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Throw away holiness and wisdom, and people will be a hundred times happier. Throw away morality and justice, and people will do the right thing. Throw away industry and profit, and there won't be any thieves. If these three aren't enough, just stay at the center of the circle and let all things take their course.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laozi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-people-will-be-a-hundred-times/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "All things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-people-will-be-a-hundred-times/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/laozi-147_all-things_throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-peopl_1805454.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/laozi-147_all-things_throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-peopl_1805454.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/laozi-147_all-things_throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-peopl_1805454.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Throw away holiness and wisdom, and people will be a hundred times happier. Throw away morality and justice…” — 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": "Throw away holiness and wisdom, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-people-will-be-a-hundred-times/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-people-will-be-a-hundred-times/#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 } } ] } ```