Contemplating The Great Nature

The mysterious excellence of the Great Nature

Those who know [the Great Nature] do not speak about it.

Those who like to speak about it do not know it.
Those who know it keep their mouths shut and close their senses (avoid being excited by sound bites).

They blunt their sharpness (avoid being loud and opinionated) and become as common as a rock (humble).

They temper their brightness and bring themselves into agreement with the obscurity (stay low profile).
Such a character cannot be treated familiarly or distantly to gain favour from.

They are beyond all profit or loss; beyond all consideration of praise/ aggrandisement or insult/ condemnation.

Thus, they become priceless as the Great Nature.

知者不言，言者不知。塞其兑，閉其門，挫其銳，解其分，和其光，同其塵，是謂玄同。故不可得而親，不可得而踈；不可得而利，不可得而害；不可得而貴，不可得而賤。故為天下貴。

Dao De Jing verse 56. Adapted from the translation by James Legge (1815 - 1897).