The Tao Te Ching, attributed to the sage Laozi, is a foundational text of Taoism. The text is central to both philosophical and religious Taoism and has influenced Chinese philosophy, including Legalism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Known for its profound wisdom, the Tao Te Ching is one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature. The nature of the Tao, objectivity and balance, apathy, and peaceful existence are all discussed in the book.