--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Throw away profit and greed, and there…" description: "\"Throw away profit and greed, and there won't be any thieves.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/laozi-147_greed_throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-wo_692704.jpg" --- # Throw away profit and greed, and there won't be any thieves. ![“Throw away profit and greed, and there won't be any thieves.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/laozi-147_greed_throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-wo_692704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/laozi-147_greed_throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-wo_692704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/laozi-147_greed_throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-wo_692704.jpg) > “Throw away profit and greed, and there won't be any thieves.” [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. If you eliminate profit and greed, theft loses its motive. **In simple terms:** No greed, no thieves. Key Takeaway Remove selfish desire. Themes ethics economics morality Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - business policy - personal finance - community governance Key Concepts human nature incentives social contract Questions to Reflect On - Can a society thrive without personal gain? - What replaces profit as motivation? A Different Perspective Human behavior is complex; greed may persist even without profit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Greed Won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed-won-4743089/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Profit Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit-greed-4094494/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Throw Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throw-away/) ## Related quotes > [Many people and companies only have one goal: money, money, and more money. Greed is ok when you let others profit from it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/many-people-and-companies-only-have-one-goal-money-money-and-more/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [God knows greed won't vanish. Neither will hatred or chauvanism. Human nature is a stubborn thing. But it isn't beyond control. Even if our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wright/god-knows-greed-won-t-vanish-neither-will-hatred-or-chauvanism-human/) [Robert Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wright/) > [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/) > [Throw away holiness and wisdom, and people will be a hundred times happier. Throw away morality and justice, and people will do the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/throw-away-holiness-and-wisdom-and-people-will-be-a-hundred-times/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [4. Enter stranger, but take heed Of what awaits the sin of greed, For those who take, but do not earn Must pay most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/4-enter-stranger-but-take-heed-of-what-awaits-the-sin-of-greed-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A greedy father has thieves for children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-greedy-father-has-thieves-for-children/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Greed is costly. Assembled fortunes are lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/greed-is-costly-assembled-fortunes-are-lost/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [You can see it in terms of the obsession on Wall Street with not just profits but greed, more profit, more profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/you-can-see-it-in-terms-of-the-obsession-on-wall-street-with-not-just/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [For what will it profit men that a more prudent distribution and use of riches make it possible for them to gain even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/for-what-will-it-profit-men-that-a-more-prudent-distribution-and-use/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## 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 Greed quotes > [Stephanie could see the greed seep into the watery eyes of her father’s other brother, a horrible little man called Fergus, as he nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/stephanie-could-see-the-greed-seep-into-the-watery-eyes-of-her-father/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“The fact that they viewed their wealth as a result of their own hands, without any honor other than lip service being given to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-goff/the-fact-that-they-viewed-their-wealth-as-a-result-of-their-own-hands/) [Lee Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-goff/) > [“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/be-fearful-when-others-are-greedy-and-be-greedy-when-others-are/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-a-similar-way-the-art-of-war-pinpoints-anger-and-greed-as/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Who does not know that kings and rulers sprang from men who were ignorant of God, who assumed because of blind greed and intolerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-vii/who-does-not-know-that-kings-and-rulers-sprang-from-men-who-were/) [Pope Gregory VII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-vii/) > [''And one day when all is gone and mankind is lost, all he leaves is the desert.'' ''For man is his own demise the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/and-one-day-when-all-is-gone-and-mankind-is-lost-all-he-leaves-is-the/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“Wisdom teaches us that our real enemies are never other living beings. They are ignorance and its minions, including greed, hatred, anger, pride, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-newland/wisdom-teaches-us-that-our-real-enemies-are-never-other-living-beings/) [Guy Newland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-newland/) > [“Suckers think that you cure greed with money, addiction with substances, expert problems with experts, banking with bankers, economics with economists, and debt crises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/suckers-think-that-you-cure-greed-with-money-addiction-with/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [The universe appears to me like an immense, inexorable torture-garden…Passions, greed, hatred, and lies; social institutions, justice, love, glory, heroism, and religion: these are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/the-universe-appears-to-me-like-an-immense-inexorable-torture-garden/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [“Thankfulness acknowledges that we can’t own anything, but we can experience everything. And just knowing that makes me thankful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/thankfulness-acknowledges-that-we-can-t-own-anything-but-we-can/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Con men look for human frailty to exploit. This is most often greed. Trump found a different vice: anger. The emotional are always the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-meyer/con-men-look-for-human-frailty-to-exploit-this-is-most-often-greed/) [Pamela Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-meyer/) [Browse all 2,232 Greed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Throw away profit and greed, and there won't be any thieves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laozi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-won-t-be-any-thieves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Greed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-won-t-be-any-thieves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/laozi-147_greed_throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-wo_692704.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/laozi-147_greed_throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-wo_692704.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/laozi-147_greed_throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-wo_692704.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Throw away profit and greed, and there won't be any thieves.” — 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 profit and greed, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-won-t-be-any-thieves/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/throw-away-profit-and-greed-and-there-won-t-be-any-thieves/#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 } } ] } ```