Original Text
A truly wise person does not impose decrees on the people; one who imposes decrees is not truly wise. Block the openings of desire, shut the doors of the mind; never show sharpness, untangle worldly troubles, blend your radiance, mingle with the dust of the world—this is the state of profound unity. Those who attain this state of unity make no distinctions between close and distant, benefit and harm, noble and humble. Therefore, they are honored by all under heaven.
Guide
A wise person does not speak much, while those who chatter endlessly are not wise. One should emulate the Tao, remaining humble and tranquil, thus transcending worldly distinctions of closeness, benefit, rank, and value, and be valued by all under heaven.Analysis
This chapter discusses the method of cultivating virtue, emphasizing the concept of "profound unity"—grasping the central idea of the Tao without engaging in worldly disputes, distinctions, or competition.
"He who knows does not speak, he who speaks does not know." In this chapter, Laozi presents us with the image of a true wise person. What defines a true wise person? In Laozi's view, a true wise person never boasts to display their brilliance and wisdom; they always remain silent, standing low to look up at others and down upon themselves, showing humility and approachability. Laozi says that truly brilliant and wise people do not casually boast or speak without restraint; only those with no knowledge and simple minds try to show their intelligence through eloquent talk. However, they do not realize that such boasting precisely reveals their ignorance and foolishness, so Laozi severely criticizes such people. Standing in the real world, Laozi not only criticizes the rulers of his time but also warns ordinary people, advising them to be humble and approachable and not to boast.
"Block the openings, shut the doors; blunt the sharpness, untie the tangles, soften the glare, merge with the dust—this is called mysterious unity." In earlier chapters, we noted that Laozi is not only the world's best awakener but also its finest guide. This is because, after raising a problem, he never retreats into indifference but instead strives to provide the most feasible solutions. In this chapter, addressing our common error of boastful talk, Laozi offers the most practical advice: to block the openings of desire, shut the doors of craving, blunt the sharp edges, dissolve conflicts, conceal brilliance, and mingle with the mundane. In previous chapters, Laozi repeatedly emphasized the principles of yielding, softness, harmony, vagueness, and non-action—in other words, not to show off one's sharpness, as it only brings harm. Hence, he advocates "blunting the sharpness," which avoids hurting others and oneself, preserving both oneself and others.
In reality, we often find ourselves puzzled: when we feel tangled over a matter, our hearts become a mess of knots that seem impossible to untie. This inner turmoil makes us restless, anxious, and even deeply pained. Since this is the case, why not completely rid ourselves of this mental chaos and live a joyful, brief life? Thus, Laozi teaches us the method of "untying the tangles," freeing us from all burdens and making us feel light and at ease. To live peacefully without excessive boasting is a principle we all know. Yet, how many of us truly follow it? In real life, to assert our presence and showcase our intelligence, we often brag to everyone we meet. But truly wise and insightful people would never speak recklessly or boast endlessly. True wisdom is like the deep, unfathomable ocean; the wise appear ordinary, going with the flow and never seeking individuality. In today's society, some people, in order to stand out or promote themselves, deliberately package themselves in bizarre ways, making others laugh and wonder whether it's ugly or beautiful. Why does this happen? The reason lies in the constant expansion of human desires, which we find hard to control—this is human nature. Here, Laozi encourages us to block the openings of our desires and close the doors of our cravings, that is, "block the openings, shut the doors."
Thus one cannot be made intimate or distant, cannot be benefited or harmed, cannot be honored or debased. Therefore they are honored by the world. "Honored" is a verb, meaning to be valued. At the end of this chapter, Laozi points out that those who have reached the state of "profound unity" have transcended the worldly distinctions of intimacy and distance, benefit and harm, honor and debasement, and thus are respected by all under heaven.
Although we live in a different era from Laozi, one thing remains the same: people all have desires, and it is difficult for anyone to restrain their selfish impulses. In this chapter, Laozi stands at the starting point of his time with foresight, objectively analyzing human nature, which still holds great significance for us today. For example, some believe that in this age of rampant materialism, if one merely accumulates brilliance without promptly showcasing their talents, they will be buried by the times. Therefore, they loudly promote themselves to everyone they meet, boasting about their abilities and talents. In fact, this is unnecessary; as the saying goes, "Gold will shine wherever it is." As long as you have talent, it will manifest anywhere, so there is no need to go to great lengths to brag. We have also previously discussed the limitations of language—words cannot fully express our true thoughts—so Laozi concluded that truly knowledgeable and wise people do not talk loudly, while only those lacking knowledge and wisdom engage in empty boasting.