Thursday, July 24, 2025

This simple yet profound quote attributed to Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism, reveals a powerful truth about the human experience: Love transforms us. It strengthens us when we receive it, and it empowers us when we give it away.

Let’s break this quote down to understand its depth and relevance—and explore how this ancient wisdom can enrich our modern lives.

💡 Strength from Being Loved

When someone truly loves us—completely and without condition—it gives us emotional stability. We feel seen, valued, and safe. That love becomes a foundation we can stand on, especially in the face of uncertainty or adversity.

• Think of a child who feels safe in a parent’s arms.

• Or a partner who finds strength in knowing they are loved deeply and unconditionally.

Love gives us resilience. It calms the inner critic. It helps us bounce back from failure and push forward in life, because we’re not carrying our burdens alone.

Being loved empowers us from the outside in.

💖 Courage from Loving Deeply

On the flip side, when we love someone deeply, we take a risk. We open our hearts. We become vulnerable. And in doing so, we activate courage—not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act in spite of it.

Loving someone deeply means:

• Trusting when you don’t know the outcome.

• Committing even when things get hard.

• Giving your time, care, and energy to someone else—even when it hurts.
  

It’s an act of bravery, because it exposes our tenderest parts. And that vulnerability is where real courage lives.

Loving empowers us from the inside out.

🌿 Wisdom from Lao Tzu

Though the quote doesn’t appear verbatim in the Tao Te Ching, it perfectly reflects the essence of Lao Tzu’s teachings. Taoism emphasizes balance, harmony, and flowing with life—not fighting it. Love is one of those gentle forces that doesn’t conquer by force, but by presence.

Lao Tzu’s worldview invites us to trust the quiet power of emotions like love, compassion, and humility. They are not weaknesses—they are the very sources of our strength and bravery.

🔍 What This Means for You

This quote is more than poetic philosophy—it’s a reminder:

• Allow yourself to be loved. Let that love be your source of confidence and strength.

• Don’t be afraid to love deeply. That kind of love makes you brave in ways nothing else can.
  

We often think of love as something soft, but Lao Tzu challenges us to see it as strong, transformative, and essential.

So the next time you feel supported by someone’s love, stand tall in that strength.
And when you choose to love someone fiercely, know that you are stepping into your most courageous self.

📚 Further Exploration: Resource List

Books

• The Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu (Stephen Mitchell or D.C. Lau translations)

• The Art of Loving – Erich Fromm

• Daring Greatly – Brené Brown

• All About Love – bell hooks

• The Road Less Traveled – M. Scott Peck

Podcasts & Talks

• On Being with Krista Tippett – conversations about meaning and love

• The Tim Ferriss Show – Interview with Brené Brown on courage & vulnerability

• The Minimalists Podcast – “Love People, Use Things”

Articles & Essays

• Loving Deeply: The Psychology of Connection – Greater Good Science Center

• What is the Tao? – Taoism.net

• Why Vulnerability Is a Strength – Harvard Business Review

Videos

• The Power of Vulnerability – TED Talk by Brené Brown

• Taoism: A Simple Explanation – BBC Reel

• Love is the Answer – Global Oneness Project Documentary

Journaling Prompts

• Who in your life gives you strength through their love?

• When have you shown courage by choosing to love despite fear?

What does “loving deeply” look like for you?