--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is strong and rigid is snapped and…" description: "\"What is strong and rigid is snapped and laid low. What is flexible and soft will always prevail.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/laozi-147_flexible_what-is-strong-and-rigid-is-snapped-and_2360136.jpg" --- # What is strong and rigid is snapped and laid low. What is… ![“What is strong and rigid is snapped and laid low. What is flexible and soft will always prevail.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/laozi-147_flexible_what-is-strong-and-rigid-is-snapped-and_2360136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/laozi-147_flexible_what-is-strong-and-rigid-is-snapped-and_2360136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/laozi-147_flexible_what-is-strong-and-rigid-is-snapped-and_2360136.jpg) > “What is strong and rigid is snapped and laid low. What is flexible and soft will always prevail.” [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. Strength without flexibility breaks; softness and adaptability endure. **In simple terms:** Rigid things break, flexible things survive. Key Takeaway Embrace adaptability. Themes flexibility resilience change strength softness Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - conflict resolution - personal growth - team dynamics Key Concepts Taoist philosophy yin yang adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How can you become more adaptable? - When does flexibility outweigh strength? A Different Perspective Rigid approaches may fail under pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“By being rigid, you become temporary; by being flexible, you become permanent!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/by-being-rigid-you-become-temporary-by-being-flexible-you-become/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Have no rigid system in you, and you'll be flexible to change with the ever changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/have-no-rigid-system-in-you-and-you-ll-be-flexible-to-change-with-the/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The rigid tree will be felled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-rigid-tree-will-be-felled/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The rigid and big belong below. The soft and weak belong above.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-rigid-and-big-belong-below-the-soft-and-weak-belong-above/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Whatever is flexible and living will tend to grow; whatever is rigid and blocked will wither and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/whatever-is-flexible-and-living-will-tend-to-grow-whatever-is-rigid/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The living are soft and yielding; the dead are rigid and stiff. Living plants are flexible and tender; the dead are brittle and dry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-living-are-soft-and-yielding-the-dead-are-rigid-and-stiff-living/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What honor can there be without humility? What heights can be reached without being low? The pieces of a chariot are useless unless the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-honor-can-there-be-without-humility-what-heights-can-be-reached/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [A man's excellence is like that of water; It benefits all things without striving; It takes to the low places shunned by men. Water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-man-s-excellence-is-like-that-of-water-it-benefits-all-things/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Rigid, the skeleton of habit alone upholds the human frame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/rigid-the-skeleton-of-habit-alone-upholds-the-human-frame/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [The more you plan and the more rigid you are, it takes away from your experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-prior/the-more-you-plan-and-the-more-rigid-you-are-it-takes-away-from-your/) [Matt Prior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-prior/) > [I like the English. They have the most rigid code of immorality in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-bradbury/i-like-the-english-they-have-the-most-rigid-code-of-immorality-in-the/) [Malcolm Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-bradbury/) > [India's rigid social structure limits intergenerational economic mobility and fosters acceptance of vast wealth disparities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-rattner/india-s-rigid-social-structure-limits-intergenerational-economic/) [Steven Rattner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-rattner/) > [Technique in the minds of many is something rigid, something like a formula that you impose on the material; but in the best stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/technique-in-the-minds-of-many-is-something-rigid-something-like-a/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [You should not translate for more than two hours at a time. After that, you lose your edge, the language becomes clumsy, rigid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/you-should-not-translate-for-more-than-two-hours-at-a-time-after-that/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Class - or the economic status of individuals - is evident in all societies, some very well stratified by a rigid caste system determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/class-or-the-economic-status-of-individuals-is-evident-in-all/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) ## 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 Flexible quotes > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [The documentary style is an incredibly flexible and useful one. It's a wonderful tool for establishing the credibility of the version of things that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gohlke/the-documentary-style-is-an-incredibly-flexible-and-useful-one-it-s-a/) [Frank Gohlke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gohlke/) > [Yoga is not about having the perfect positions, it's not about who's the best and who's the most flexible. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayne-middlemiss/yoga-is-not-about-having-the-perfect-positions-it-s-not-about-who-s/) [Jayne Middlemiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayne-middlemiss/) > [The person who has a sense of humor is not just more relaxed in the face of a potentially stressful situation, but is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morreall/the-person-who-has-a-sense-of-humor-is-not-just-more-relaxed-in-the/) John Morreall > [Goals have to be realistic and flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-miller/goals-have-to-be-realistic-and-flexible/) [Shannon Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-miller/) > [It is much easier to be flexible about where a story begins than it ever was for me to change my mind about where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-is-much-easier-to-be-flexible-about-where-a-story-begins-than-it/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think there is a big and significant difference between being a leader and being a manager-leaders lead from the heart. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jung/i-think-there-is-a-big-and-significant-difference-between-being-a/) [Andrea Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jung/) > [I don't control the schedule of the networks. We have three of our debates that are on network television, and those are on Saturday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-don-t-control-the-schedule-of-the-networks-we-have-three-of-our/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“A flexible body without a flexible mind isn't perfect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/a-flexible-body-without-a-flexible-mind-isn-t-perfect/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness - curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/we-could-encourage-the-best-qualities-of-youthfulness-curiosity/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [It's all about being flexible, and avoiding choices whenever possible. Choices suck, they are inherently limiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-armstrong/it-s-all-about-being-flexible-and-avoiding-choices-whenever-possible/) Craig Armstrong > [If an athlete like Michael Jordan played tennis, he would be the best - he's flexible, not too bulky, and has unbelievable hand-to-eye coordination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-wilander/if-an-athlete-like-michael-jordan-played-tennis-he-would-be-the-best/) [Mats Wilander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-wilander/) > [Blessed are the flexible for they will not allow themselves to become bent out of shape!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ludlum/blessed-are-the-flexible-for-they-will-not-allow-themselves-to-become/) [Robert Ludlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ludlum/) > [“It’s okay, man,” I said, though I realized my definition of okay had become flexible over the last few months.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-okay-man-i-said-though-i-realized-my-definition-of-okay-had/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [You need to understand plant chemistry, be inured to discomfort and awesomely flexible. When something breaks down-the plane, the boat, you just have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kilham/you-need-to-understand-plant-chemistry-be-inured-to-discomfort-and/) [Chris Kilham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kilham/) Browse all 635 Flexible quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is strong and rigid is snapped and laid low. 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