Lao Tzu

Ancient Chinese sage quoted in Likability for the line “care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” In the Likability note the quote (encountered via Twitter) anchors the tension at the heart of the concept: the pull toward being liked versus the freedom of not needing others’ approval — Lao Tzu framing approval-seeking as a form of captivity.

Context: Lao Tzu (Laozi) is the semi-legendary 6th-century BCE Chinese philosopher traditionally credited as the author of the Tao Te Ching and the founder of Taoism.

Where this appears

• Likability — quoted on approval-seeking as imprisonment (“care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner”).