Laozi:

The more prohibitions there are, the poorer the people will be. The more sharp weapons the people have, the more troubled the state will be. The more cunning and skill man possesses, the more peculiar things will appear. The more laws and orders are promulgated, the more thieves and robbers there will be.

— Laozi Ancient

Founder of Taoism

Context

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 57

Date / Period

6th century BCE (approximate)

Source

https://terebess.hu/english/tao/chan.html#chap57

Verification

Unverifiable

Explanation

Found in 1 providers: grok

Method

Cross Reference

Sources Checked

1 source

More from Laozi

"When the government is lazy and careless, the people are unspoiled; when the government is efficient and smart, the people are discontented."

Controversial

"Let people return to making knots on ropes, instead of writing."

Humorous

"The greatest skill is to seem unskilled; The greatest abundance is to seem empty."

Philosophical

"The sage embraces the One and becomes the model of the world. He does not display himself, therefore he shines. He does not assert himself, therefore he is distinguished. He does not boast, therefore …"

Shocking

"If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence."

Humorous

View all sayings from Laozi