 One of the frequently discussed emotions in the Laozi is desire (yu 欲). Desire, specifically a natural tendency to satisfy one’s basic needs, is not necessarily negative or evil but Laozi mentions it 26 times in this relatively short text and carefully explain its potentially harmful effects because of its exclusive nature (its selfish or self-centered orientation that excludes or disregards others’ interests or viewpoints). Laozi states that “the great Way [大道] is always without desires [欲]” (Laozi, 34) and “those who preserve the Way [道], do not desire [欲] fullness”. (Laozi, 16).  He emphasizes that one should minimize one’s desire (Laozi, 1, 19) to understand and follow the Way (dao). Virág characterizes Laozi’s rather cautionary and reproving approach to emotions, specifically desire, as one of the salient features of the Laozi. She (Virág 2017: 76) states that 