--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the uncarved wood is split, its…" description: "\"When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. When the sage is put to use, he becomes the head.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/laozi-147_sage_when-the-uncarved-wood-is-split-its-part_203702.jpg" --- # When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use… ![“When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. When the sage is put to use, he becomes the head.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/laozi-147_sage_when-the-uncarved-wood-is-split-its-part_203702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/laozi-147_sage_when-the-uncarved-wood-is-split-its-part_203702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/laozi-147_sage_when-the-uncarved-wood-is-split-its-part_203702.jpg) > “When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. When the sage is put to use, he becomes the head.” [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. When raw material is utilized, it becomes valuable; when a wise person is employed, they lead. **In simple terms:** Use resources wisely; leaders emerge from usefulness. Key Takeaway Apply talents to serve. Themes leadership utilization wisdom Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team projects - mentorship - skill development - resource allocation Key Concepts Taoism potential service Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize when to step back? - What resources are underused around you? A Different Perspective Leaders may become overburdened. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sage/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woods/) ## Related quotes > [I have no desire to desire, and people become like the uncarved wood by themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/i-have-no-desire-to-desire-and-people-become-like-the-uncarved-wood/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Simple, like uncarved wood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/simple-like-uncarved-wood/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [I live in the country, so I get a fair amount of exercise. We heat our house with wood, so I split wood. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/i-live-in-the-country-so-i-get-a-fair-amount-of-exercise-we-heat-our/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [The nation needs to return to the colonial way of life, when a wife was judged by the amount of wood she could split.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/the-nation-needs-to-return-to-the-colonial-way-of-life-when-a-wife/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [“unpretentious like wood that has not been fashioned into anything;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/unpretentious-like-wood-that-has-not-been-fashioned-into-anything/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The sage acts by doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-sage-acts-by-doing-nothing/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The sage does not hoard. The more he helps others, the more he benefits himself, Having bestowed all he has on others, he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-sage-does-not-hoard-the-more-he-helps-others-the-more-he-benefits-2/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [When the sage stands above people, they are not oppressed. When he leads people, they are not obstructed. The world will exalt him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-the-sage-stands-above-people-they-are-not-oppressed-when-he/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind; Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily; Sometimes there is strength and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/so-sometimes-things-are-ahead-and-sometimes-they-are-behind-sometimes/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What Heaven detests, who knows why? Even the sage considers it difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-heaven-detests-who-knows-why-even-the-sage-considers-it-difficult/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Words have divided man from woman, one from another, this from that, until only sages know how to put things together. Without words, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/words-have-divided-man-from-woman-one-from-another-this-from-that/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He who regards many things easy will find many difficulties. Therefore the sage regards things difficult, and consequently never has difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-who-regards-many-things-easy-will-find-many-difficulties-therefore/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## 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 Sage quotes > [“What would have been the fate of sages if there were no fools?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/what-would-have-been-the-fate-of-sages-if-there-were-no-fools/) [Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/) > [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/) > [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/) > [In truth, to attain to interior peace, one must be willing to pass through the contrary to peace. Such is the teaching of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-brahmananda/in-truth-to-attain-to-interior-peace-one-must-be-willing-to-pass/) [Swami Brahmananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-brahmananda/) > [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [One of the big first computers was called SAGE, which was a missile defense, the first missile-defense computer, which was, like, one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/one-of-the-big-first-computers-was-called-sage-which-was-a-missile/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [Now know I well what people sought formerly above all else when they sought Teachers of virtue. Good sleep they sought for themselves, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/now-know-i-well-what-people-sought-formerly-above-all-else-when-they/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [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/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The earth itself assures us it is a living entity. Deep below surface one can hear its slow pulse, feel its vibrant rhythm. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-waters/the-earth-itself-assures-us-it-is-a-living-entity-deep-below-surface/) [Frank Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-waters/) > [“Get me a real chair”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/get-me-a-real-chair/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [The family circle has widened. The worldpool of information fathered by the electric media--movies, Telstar, flight--far surpassesany possible influence mom and dad can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-family-circle-has-widened-the-worldpool-of-information-fathered/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Even to the sage who's doing Sahaja Samadhi, the great guru, I'd say: "Hey buddy, you know, I like the robes and everything, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/even-to-the-sage-who-s-doing-sahaja-samadhi-the-great-guru-i-d-say/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Life has taught me one supreme lesson. This is that we must—if we are really to live at all, if we are to enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/life-has-taught-me-one-supreme-lesson-this-is-that-we-must-if-we-are/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) > [“There's no difference between a madman and a professor...it should be clear to you in the way they dress, act and think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-s-no-difference-between-a-madman-and-a-professor-it-should-be/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) [Browse all 605 Sage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the uncarved wood is split, its parts are put to use. 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