--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Give up sainthood, renounce wisdom, and…" description: "\"“Give up sainthood, renounce wisdom, and it will be a hundred times better for everyone. Give up kindness, renounce morality, and men will rediscover f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/tao-te-ching-36812_character_give-up-sainthood-renounce-wisdom-and-it_1401796.jpg" --- # Give up sainthood, renounce wisdom, and it will be a… ![“Give up sainthood, renounce wisdom, and it will be a hundred times better for everyone. Give up kindness, renounce morality, and men will rediscover filial piety and love. Give up ingenuity, renounce profit, and bandits and thieves will disappear. These three are outward forms alone; they are not…” quote by Tao Te Ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/tao-te-ching-36812_character_give-up-sainthood-renounce-wisdom-and-it_1401796.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/tao-te-ching-36812_character_give-up-sainthood-renounce-wisdom-and-it_1401796.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/tao-te-ching-36812_character_give-up-sainthood-renounce-wisdom-and-it_1401796.jpg) > ““Give up sainthood, renounce wisdom, and it will be a hundred times better for everyone. Give up kindness, renounce morality, and men will rediscover filial piety and love. Give up ingenuity, renounce profit, and bandits and thieves will disappear. These three are outward forms alone; they are not sufficient in themselves. It is more important to see the simplicity, To realize one's true nature, to cast off selfishness and temper desire.”” [Tao Te Ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-te-ching/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The text urges abandoning external virtues and focusing on inner simplicity, selflessness, and desirelessness to realize true nature. **In simple terms:** True growth comes from inner simplicity, not outward virtues. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner simplicity and selflessness. Themes spirituality self‑realization philosophy Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - ethical decision‑making - conflict resolution - leadership development Key Concepts Taoism inner nature renunciation Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance inner simplicity with societal responsibilities? - What practices help diminish selfish desire? A Different Perspective Neglecting external virtues can harm social order if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Filial piety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filial-piety/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness Renounce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-renounce-4914648/) [Piety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piety/) [Renounce Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renounce-morality-4914646/) [Renounce Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renounce-wisdom-1916394/) [Sainthood Renounce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sainthood-renounce-4914647/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [True nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-nature/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [The great point is to renounce your own wisdom by simplicity of walk, and to be ready to give up the favor, esteem, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/the-great-point-is-to-renounce-your-own-wisdom-by-simplicity-of-walk/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [When the great Tao is forgotten, goodness and piety appear. 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