--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the Way governs the world, the proud…" description: "\"When the Way governs the world, the proud stallions drag dung carriages. When the Way is lost to the world, war horses are bred outside the city.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/laozi-147_carriages_when-the-way-governs-the-world-the-proud_563219.jpg" --- # When the Way governs the world, the proud stallions drag… ![“When the Way governs the world, the proud stallions drag dung carriages. When the Way is lost to the world, war horses are bred outside the city.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/laozi-147_carriages_when-the-way-governs-the-world-the-proud_563219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/laozi-147_carriages_when-the-way-governs-the-world-the-proud_563219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/laozi-147_carriages_when-the-way-governs-the-world-the-proud_563219.jpg) > “When the Way governs the world, the proud stallions drag dung carriages. When the Way is lost to the world, war horses are bred outside the city.” [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 order guides society, strength is restrained; without it, chaos breeds war. **In simple terms:** Order restrains power; loss leads to chaos. Key Takeaway Maintain balance and order. Themes order power chaos balance society Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - government policy - community leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts Taoism political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you preserve order? - What signs show balance is lost? A Different Perspective Too simplistic view of complex societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carriages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carriages/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Drag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drag/) [Dung Carriages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dung-carriages-4664505/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Horses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horses/) [Horses Bred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horses-bred-2211561/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Stallions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stallions/) [Stallions Drag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stallions-drag-4664504/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-horse/) [War Horses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-horses-1646535/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) ## Related quotes > [There aren't a lot of guys like me left. 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Because I'm here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/you-re-not-alone-are-you-because-i-m-here/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [ \["War Horse"\] does have action as well, but we allow the audience to appreciate the environment where these characters are from because the lens… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-kaminski/war-horse-does-have-action-as-well-but-we-allow-the-audience-to/) [Janusz Kaminski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-kaminski/) > [Wake, soldier wake, thy war-horse waits To bear thee to the battle back;-- Thou slumberest at a foeman's gates,-- Thy dog would break thy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kibble-hervey/wake-soldier-wake-thy-war-horse-waits-to-bear-thee-to-the-battle-back/) [Thomas Kibble Hervey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kibble-hervey/) > [“The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 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"A miraculous kind of horse”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/what-kind-of-a-horse-a-miraculous-kind-of-horse/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming 'War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-have-never-before-in-my-long-and-eclectic-career-been-gifted-with/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) ## 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. 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