Tao Te Ching Chapter 70: The Solitary Wisdom
Original Chinese Text
吾言甚易知，甚易行。
天下莫能知，莫能行。
言有宗，事有君。
夫唯无知，是以不我知。
知我者希，则我者贵。
是以圣人被褐而怀玉。
Pinyin (Pronunciation)
Wú yán shèn yì zhī, shèn yì xíng.
Tiānxià mò néng zhī, mò néng xíng.
Yán yǒu zōng, shì yǒu jūn.
Fú wéi wúzhī, shì yǐ bù wǒ zhī.
Zhī wǒ zhě xī, zé wǒ zhě guì.
Shì yǐ shèngrén pī hè ér huái yù.
Structured Translation & Interpretation
Core Paradox
| Surface Appearance | Inner Reality | Modern Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 甚易知/行 (Simple) | 莫能知/行 (Unpracticed) | “Easy to understand, hard to implement” |
| 被褐 (Coarse cloth) | 怀玉 (Jade wisdom) | “Silicon Valley hoodie billionaires” |
Three Layers of Understanding
- Literal Meaning
- “My teachings are simple” → Like basic hygiene rules
- Cultural Barrier
- “People prefer complexity” → Quantum physics vs. common sense
- Elite Recognition
- “Few discern the value” → Venture capitalists spotting unicorns
Plain English Paraphrase
- The Frustrating Simplicity
- “Eat vegetables, exercise, sleep early—why is health so hard?”
- “Be kind, stay humble—why is greatness so rare?”
- The Hidden Structure
- “Every word roots in cosmic law” (言有宗) → Like DNA code
- “Every act serves higher order” (事有君) → Like bees in a hive
- The Sage’s Dilemma
- “Dressed in rags but carrying treasure” → Modern parallel:
- Warren Buffett’s frugality
- Einstein’s messy hair
- “Dressed in rags but carrying treasure” → Modern parallel:
Key Philosophical Terms
| Chinese | Literal Translation | Psychological Insight |
|---|---|---|
| 无知 | “Without knowing” | Cognitive dissonance |
| 则我者贵 | “Followers become noble” | Wisdom’s ripple effect |
| 怀玉 | “Embracing jade” | Hidden exceptionalism |
Modern Applications
For Entrepreneurs
- “Simple ideas (Uber’s ‘taxi app’) defeat complex plans” → 甚易行 principle
For Educators
- “Montessori’s ‘follow the child’ vs. rigid curricula” → 莫能行 phenomenon
For Personal Growth
- “Meditation’s simplicity vs. our resistance” → 不我知 barrier
“Like an unopened iPhone—its power remains dormant until activated.”
— Technology metaphor for 怀玉
Connections to Other Chapters
- Chapter 41: “The great Tao seems contradictory” → Same perception gap
- Chapter 56: “Those who know don’t speak” → Complementary wisdom
Would you like:
- Neuroscience of why simple truths get ignored?
- Historical cases of 被褐怀玉 figures?
- Contrast with modern “overcomplication” culture?
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