“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
— Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, ch. 64
What this quote means
Often read as motivational, the line in context is about wu wei and timing: great things are accomplished by attending to small beginnings and not forcing the pace. Translations vary; the sense is consistent across them.
The idea behind it
Wu Wei — The Taoist principle of "effortless action" — accomplishing things by aligning with the natural flow rather than forcing them.
Tao Te Ching is public domain; phrasing varies by translation. Confidence: high.