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Full Idea
Those of highest virtue do not strive for virtue, and so they have it.
Gist of Idea
The highest virtue is achieved without effort
Source
Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], 38), quoted by Bryan van Norden - Intro to Classical Chinese Philosophy 8.II.2
Book Ref
Norden,Bryan van: 'Intro to Classical Chinese Philosophy' [Hackett 2011], p.128
A Reaction
Every moralist's dream is the person to whom virtue comes so naturally that no thought is required. This says they don't even notice it; Aristotle says they simply enjoying behaving virtuously.
Related Idea
Idea 2689 Good people enjoy virtuous action, just as musicians enjoy beautiful melodies [Aristotle]
| 23401 | A military victory is not a thing of beauty [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 23402 | The highest virtue is achieved without effort [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6319 | Wise people choose inaction and silence [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6320 | The best rulers are invisible, the next admired, the next feared, and the worst are exploited [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6321 | Vulgar people are alert; I alone am muddled [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6325 | One who knows does not speak; one who speaks does not know [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6326 | The better known the law, the more criminals there are [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6327 | Do good to him who has done you an injury [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6328 | To know yet to think that one does not know is best [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6329 | People are hard to govern because authorities love to do things [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6330 | One with no use for life is wiser than one who values it [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6331 | Truth is not beautiful; beautiful speech is not truthful [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6324 | To gain in goodness, treat as good those who are good, and those who are not [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6322 | There is no crime greater than having too many desires [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
| 6323 | Pursuit of learning increases activity; the Way decreases it [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |