The quote, "an ant on the move does more than a dozing ox" is attributed to which Chinese sage?

The saying is attributed to Lao Tzu (also known as Laozi) was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, the reputed author of the “Tao Te Ching” the foundation of philosophical “Taoism”.

There is uncertainty about whether Lao Tzu was an actual person or a figure of legend. He was previously portrayed as a 6th-century BC contemporary of Confucius, but some modern historians consider him to have lived during the 4th century BC.

Whether man or legend, Lao Tzu is firmly a central figure in Chinese culture, claimed by both the emperors of the Tang dynasty and modern people of the “Li” surname as a founder of their lineages.

In the mid-20th century, a consensus emerged among scholars that the existence of the person known as Lao Tzu/Laozi is doubtful and that the “Tao Te Ching” was a compilation of Taoist sayings by many authors. The earliest accounts of Lao Tzu vary considerably and provide inconsistent references to his provenance and legacy.

The “Tao Te Ching”, often simply called “Laozi” after its reputed author, describes the Dao (or Tao) as the source and ideal of all existence. It is unseen, but not transcendent, immensely powerful yet supremely humble, being the root of all things. People have desires and free will (and thus are able to alter their own nature).