Explaining "The longest journey starts with a single step"

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 15/10/2024, 01:42

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The longest journey starts with a single step

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.