Business Quotes
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
"When nothing is done, nothing is left undone."— Lao Tzu
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Meaning of this quote
The passage describes action without unnecessary interference or forced effort. Its paradox concerns a Taoist ideal of effective responsiveness, not an instruction to neglect responsibilities.
Key takeaway:
Remove needless interference while still responding to what is needed.
Origin of the quote
Tao Te Ching, Chapter 48, in the Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English version.
Who actually said this?
VerifiedThe university-hosted translation contains the sentence. The surrounding lines explain the idea of non-forcing, which prevents a literal reading as mere inactivity.
