Tao Te Ching

The Power of Goodness, the Wisdom Beyond Words
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Showing 221-240 of 249 items.
Chapter NumberContent
127

Seductive details easily capture our attention and distract us from what's important. Most people endlessly rehash unimportant trivialities, see the trees but not the forest, the leaves but not the roots, and then have no time for the important priorities. Instead, focus on the cause instead of getting side-tracked by the symptoms. Immediately go to the heart of the issue instead of getting confused by the surface appearance. Distinguish clearly between issues best left alone and ones important to prioritize.

127

Self-satisfaction only leads to contempt. Unlike genuine confidence, conceit always looks for applause, for constant approval, for a flattering “Bravo!” after every word. Always only listening to themselves, the arrogant and vain speak with an echo only hearing themselves, ignoring those around them. Infatuated with themselves, they try to monopolize all the credit but only increase their debt. They may fool the foolish but only receive disdain from the wise.

127

Many tend to automatically take the other side of an opponent or an adversary's opinions—even when it's clear the rivals are in the right. This means losing before beginning. It's almost impossible to find success without good resources. Doing this in words has less detrimental consequence but doing it in action can bring catastrophe. The obstinate and stubborn often make this mistake when they contradict and quarrel with the truth for misguided personal gain. The wise hold fast to reason instead of passion, either focus on finding the best way first or on improving it later if someone else does. This way they lead their foolish competitors into making and letting their own obstinacy undermine their strength.

127

Like a horse rider staying in the saddle in spite of intense bumps and twists, don't let sensationalism seduce you. Never promote the sensational in order to not seem trite. At first, it may gain attention from its novelty or outrageousness but soon the deceit becomes known and the promoter only looks foolish. Both of these extremes—adherence to only status quo conformity and enthusiastic excitement about outrageous propositions—only bring disgrace. Enthusiasm based on uncertainty is like building on sand instead of a firm foundation. Instead, the wise always align their undertakings with the reasonable and sure. They don't sacrifice their integrity for short-term and unfounded attention.

127

Especially when in uncertain or dangerous territory, only advance under cover. Find the goals of others that align with your own so that helping them without notice also advances your own plans. This provides an unseen advantage that continues after initial goals are met. While helping others, you more effectively further your own ends by avoiding the skepticism that would arise if it looked like you were only working for yourself. This disguised intent easily evades the resistance of the skeptical and those who always at first say "no." [Chapter 13 expands on this maxim and chapter 193 warns against others taking this approach.]

127

Do not show your wounded finger, for everything will knock up against it. The wise never confess to being hit. If you wish the one to cease and the other to endure, never disclose the source of pain or of joy. Complaining only makes us into a target for malice to shoot against because ill will searches for wounds to inflame. The wise hide harmful events and experiences—personal, biological, business—never nurturing with attention and talk memories best forgotten.

127

Lies always come first and drag the foolish into webs of hazardous pitfalls. Deceit normally manipulates the surface and so easily lures in the superficial. The wise, however, wait for the truth's slow emergence. It lives beneath the surface distorting the truth and making things often much different from what they seem. The wise remember that duplicity normally comes first and let one of their inner ears hear the presentation and patiently reserve a second ear for the truth's slow emergence. [cf. #13]

127

Even monarchs and heads of giant corporations need good counsel and feedback. Only incorrigible fools refuse to listen, shun criticism, and scare people away from telling them the truth. People like this can't be helped because they can't be reached. They madly rush over cliffs without being able to hear warnings. Everyone benefits from friendships deep and secure enough to shelter fault-finding, honest advice, and a faithful mirroring free from deception. For this role however, trust only those with integrity—the sincere, wise, and loyal.

127

Although one of our most common activities, we often take conversation for granted and don't give it enough attention. As philosophers from Socrates to Erasmus to Dryden to Ben Johnson quoted, "Speak that I may know you." Our friends, rivals, and associates all judge us mainly by our conversation and it either rises us up or throws us down. In this regard, discretion becomes more important than eloquence. At best and most appropriate, we adapt our words to the minds, feelings, and temperaments of others. With close friends, many prefer spontaneous, casual and ill-considered words. In more substantial circles however, conversation reveals substance and significantly determines outcomes.

127

To stay in power, rulers need to provide a scapegoat. In spite of best efforts, inevitably some projects will fail, some results won't match expectations, some people will get angry and critical. Small failings will assume undeserved attention while large scale positive results will be ignored. Having an external target for the inescapable resentment, anger, and ridicule that arise from failed ventures enables the possibility of trying new ones.
[Several chapters—3, 31, 88, 125—advise how to avoid becoming a scapegoat but this one suggests creating one. This contradicts Balthasar's general intent and attitude but blends in better if the idea of "scapegoat" is depersonalized and applied to an inanimate system or idea.]

127

The perceived value of a service or product rarely reflects any intrinsic value; but rather, arises from popular beliefs and impressions. Since few think for themselves and most follow the crowd, worthless and harmful products and activities often proliferate while beneficial ones flounder in obscurity. This obscurity, however, can become an opportunity because almost everyone considers themselves a connoisseur above the crowd and will run after the unusual. Instead of calling something easy or common; a little mystery, a striking name, the feeling of being part of an elite group, an impression of only providing a service or product to a special group—these all raise perceived value and price.

127

For those who think ahead, most dangers become small problems with no mischances, bad luck, or narrow escapes. Mature reflection can often transform even the most serious challenges into profitable opportunities. Many act first and only consider the consequences after they are already experiencing them and can now only think about excuses. Often people don’t think either before or after. Instead, think both before and after—let your whole life become a continuous process of anticipation, evaluation, reflection, foresight, and searching for the best path.

127

Our friends, associates, and our whole environment influence us in subtle and mainly unconscious ways. This also influences how others think about us when they see us with these people and situations. When on the way to a higher status—when climbing a social, political, or corporate pyramid—associate with those of more prominence and prestige. The respect they elicit will blend into our own reputation. This process works in reverse, however, when we have already arrived at the higher position: associating with more skillful and more respected people will detract from our own standing. As the sun rises, it becomes harder and harder to see the moon.

127

Be careful when stepping into a new role that replaces someone greatly respected. Because people more easily forget negative experiences, the past to most seems much better than the present. To avoid being completely eclipsed by a highly-thought-of predecessor, you must either achieve twice as much or create something innovative and unprecedented. A certain amount of esteem comes automatically from just being the first. To equal that when we're not the first requires superior talent, performance, and results. This can also secure our place when a successor takes over from you.

127

Most people act out roles based on the desired impression they would like to make. Lies almost always come first but most of us immediately believe and accept the superficial and distorted as the truth it almost never matches. That leads to bad choices, unexpected pitfalls, and often disastrous results. Instead, stop being so easily convinced, believing and liking so easily. Suspend judgment, question first impressions, look under the surface. But do this discretely; don't let your suspension of belief cause insult by implying that your source is either a cheat or has been cheated. And too much disbelief is an indication of a liar who never believes and should also never be believed. A similar dynamic plays out with being impressed by, loving and liking people. Lies come from actions and objects as well as words.

127

The wise learn to master their emotions but only to a middle-way point. An excess of self-control leads to an insipid life but not enough leads to disaster. Emotions can serve us well if we learn to prudently reign them in by using the energy but not letting it go too far. Learn the art of falling into and quickly getting out of anger. Learn how to stop at the right moment by paying attention, acknowledging the feeling, and taking command over your tempers. Any excess of passion leads to less rationality and more negative consequences. The faster we let anything go, the more difficult to slow and stop it. A proverb says, "No one is wise on horseback" but the skillful and wise accomplish this challenge.

127

Although a large amount of success in life depends on the goodwill of friends; although to a large extent we're judged because of our friends; although wise friends help us prevent and chase away troubles while foolish ones invite and encourage them; although choosing good friends is one of the most important things we do in life; few carefully select their friends. Most people find their friends by chance, because of the circumstances that haphazardly throw us into the same room. Instead, choose friends wisely. Look below the surface and see their true selves; don't rely on words but test them in the world of experience; see through the mirage of skillful entertaining, pleasure-seeking, and the myriad forms of seduction. The insight and good wishes of a true friend easily becomes one of the most valuable resources in life.

127

Study people with as much attention and time as you would study an important book. Instead of accepting the polished surface, look deeper into the more rough-cut reality. As with buying a product, better to be cheated by the price than by the quality. But with merchandise, it's much easier to ascertain the truth. Understanding people to this degree requires a very open mind as well as discipline and penetrating intelligence.

127

Good relationships multiply the sweetness of life and divide its sourness. The best prevention and remedy against misfortune, there is no wasteland or desert like living without friends. Few know how to choose them wisely and not many can become good friends. It takes skill and discretion to wisely engage their support. Some thrive best when at a distance, some when close by. Some communicate best in person, some with correspondence. Old, tested, and well-salted relationships become like a breath of fresh air for the soul and keeping them becomes much more important than finding new ones.

127

Epictetus taught that the ability to put up with fools represents half of all worldly wisdom and deserves a place as our most important rule of life. The ability to "suffer fools gladly" with an emphasis on the "gladly" leads to a deep inner peace that can create more happiness in the world. It requires, however, an uncommon patience and acceptance. Harder for the wise because they more clearly see folly and foolishness, we must often put up with the most from those most close.