English
español
française
italiano
deutsche
日本語
polski
česky
svenska
Türkçe
Nederlands
Explaining "The longest journey starts with a single step"
Reviewed and edited by 
Lloyd Cooper 15/10/2024, 01:42
Lloyd Cooper 15/10/2024, 01:42English.me team member
What does it mean?
This phrase means that no matter how big or daunting a task or goal may seem, it is achieved by starting with small steps and gradually progressing towards completion.
Tone
Encouraging
Origin
The phrase is a paraphrase of a quote attributed to the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu from the Tao Te Ching, which says, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Examples of usage
- Even though writing a novel seems daunting, remember that the longest journey starts with a single step; just begin with one sentence.
- She was overwhelmed by the prospect of running a marathon, but she kept reminding herself that the longest journey starts with a single step.
Phrases
