Item 2 in Daoist Five Precepts
Abstain from theft
Do not take what has not been freely given.
- Position
- 2
- Form
- Mixed formulation
- Obligation
- Context-dependent
- Wording status
- Translation
- Intended audience
- Daoist lay followers and initiates, with variation by lineage
- Last reviewed
- 28 June 2026
Names and terminology
Canonical name: Abstain from theft
Source wording
Do not take what has not been freely given.
Broader interpretation
Do not take what has not been freely given.
Practical meaning
Do not take what has not been freely given.
Ethical purpose
This principle is intended to guide conduct, character and relationships in accordance with the parent framework.
Variations across schools or traditions
Interpretation and application may vary across communities, translations and individual circumstances.
Criticism and difficult cases
This principle should be applied with attention to evidence, consent, equality, power, foreseeable harm and realistic alternatives.
Truth By Reason analysis
Do not take what has not been freely given. Its ethical force depends on whether its application reduces avoidable harm and respects equal human dignity.
Ethical themes
Sources
- Taoist Beliefs — Five Basic Taoist Precepts Mainstream secondary source