Tao Te Ching 41: The wise man, the fool and paradox

- 41 -

When a wise man hears of the Tao,

he immediately begins to live it.

When an average man hears of the Tao,

he believes some of it and doubts the rest.

When a foolish man hears of the Tao,

he laughs out loud at the very idea.

If it were not for that laugh,

it would not be the Tao.

~

Thus it is said:

the path into light seems dark,

the path forward seems like retreat,

the superior path seems empty,

the easy way seems hard,

the pure seems tarnished,

true power seems weak,

true clarity seems obscure,

true vi...