Tao Te Ching

The Power of Goodness, the Wisdom Beyond Words
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Art of Worldly Wisdom
Chapter 43
Inscrutable

Think like the wise, speak like the foolish. While the wise often see through deception and distorted views easily, the majority of people don't want things to change—even if obviously for the better—and resist, often violently, contradictory opinions. Few welcome the truth; most hear it as insult, a condemnation of their judgement, a threat to their status quo security. For this reason the wise hide their clarity and insights from the common spotlight, avoid contradicting as well as being contradicted, and take refuge in silence, only becoming visible in special contexts to carefully selected people.

Commentary

“The wise appear simple and ordinary on the outside while holding a precious treasure concealed within.”

Lao Tzu 老子 1 via Shan Dao, chapter #70
(Lǎozǐ)
from Tao Te Ching 道德经 Dàodéjīng

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“He plans secretly, moves surreptitiously, and foils the enemy's intentions... but his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom or credit for courage because the world at large knows nothing of them.”

Sun Tzu 孙武 544 – 496 BCE via Lionel Giles and James Clavell
(Sun Zi)
HIstory's supreme strategist
from Art of War 孙子兵法

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“Creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.”

Albert Einstein 1879 – 1955 CE

Themes: Inscrutable

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