Born Quotes
Men are born soft and supple; dead they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry.
"Men are born soft and supple; dead they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry."— Lao Tzu
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Meaning of this quote
Living things are associated with flexibility, while death is associated with rigidity. The contrast supports a philosophical preference for responsiveness over hardness.
Key takeaway:
Stay flexible enough to respond to changing conditions.
Origin of the quote
Tao Te Ching, Chapter 76, Stephen Mitchell’s interpretive version.
Who actually said this?
VerifiedThe English wording is Mitchell’s modern rendering. Its imagery should not be treated as a complete biological rule.
