When superior people hear of the Way, they carry it out with diligence. When middling people hear of the Way, it sometimes seems to be there, sometimes not. When lesser people hear of the Way, they ridicule it greatly. If they didn't laugh at it, it wouldn't be the Way.
Interpretation
People's responses to wisdom or truth vary based on their character.
This quote by Laozi highlights the differing reactions to profound wisdom or the 'Way' among individuals of varying levels of understanding. Superior individuals embrace and diligently follow the Way, while those of middling understanding may be inconsistent in their acceptance, and lesser individuals mock it, indicating a lack of depth in comprehension. The ridicule may even be a sign that the Way is indeed something significant and worthy of pursuit, as growth often eludes those who do not seek it seriously.
In practice
During a motivational talk, one might reference this quote to explain how different people embrace or reject ideas.
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.
What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god.
That rifle hanging on the wall of the working-class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.
Beauty, like ice, our footing does betray; Who can tread sure on the smooth, slippery way: Pleased with the surface, we glide swiftly on, And see the dangers that we cannot shun.
Because the question for me was always whether that shape we see in our lives was there from the beginning or whether these random events are only called a pattern after the fact. Because otherwise we are nothing.
After all, the only thing that is going to save mankind is if enough people live their lives for something or someone other than themselves.
Through some combination of culture and biology, our minds are intuitively receptive to religion.
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