Geese are white, crows are black. No argument will change this.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the acceptance of facts and truths that are immutable, regardless of debate or argument.
Laozi's quote highlights the importance of recognizing and accepting the unchangeable truths in life. The colors of geese and crows serve as metaphors for undeniable realities; no amount of discussion or argumentation can alter these facts. This perspective encourages a focus on acceptance rather than futile debates over matters that are clear and evident.
In practice
During a debate on social media about climate change, one could use this quote to stress the importance of accepting scientific facts.
If you understand others you are smart._x000D_ If you understand yourself you are illuminated._x000D_ If you overcome others you are powerful._x000D_ If you overcome yourself you have strength._x000D_ If you know how to be satisfied you are rich._x000D_ If you can act with vigor, you have a will._x000D_ If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting._x000D_ If you die without loss, you are eternal.
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.
In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.
Rule your mind with serenity rather than with force and manipulation.
Why is it that if you take advantage of a corporate tax break you're a smart businessman, but if you take advantage of something so you don't go hungry, you're a moocher?
The presidents and the founding fathers and all of the people we sort of raise up as false idols, we don't wrestle with the fact that many of these were brilliant men, but they were also men with deep prejudices against people of color, against indigenous people, against women.
The aim of life is to be fully born, though its tragedy is that most of us die before we are thus born.
Them as can do has to do for them as can't. And someone has to speak up for them as has no voices.
Investing a lot of time and money in external beauty and caring little about internal beauty.
But the saints are never the kind of killjoy spinster aunts who go in for faultfinding and lack all sense of humor. (Nor should the Karl Barth who so loved and understood Mozart be regarded as such.)For humor is a mysterious but unmistakable charism inseparable from Catholic faith, and neither the "progressives" nor the "integralists" seem to possess it - the latter even less than the former.
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