Why Truly Smart People Don’t Try to Know It All
知者不博，博者不知| …… (Chapter 81, Tao Te Ching)
English cannot express the meaning of Chinese.
1. Literal Translation:
- “Those who know are not extensive; those who are extensive do not know.”
2. Key Concepts:
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- 知者 (Zhī zhě): “One who truly knows” (possessing wisdom or deep understanding, often linked to the Tao).
- 不博 (Bù bó): “Not broad” — rejecting superficial accumulation or scattered knowledge.
- 博者 (Bó zhě): “One who is broad” (a collector of facts or skills without depth).
- 不知 (Bù zhī): “Does not truly know” — lacking insight into the essence (e.g., the Tao), despite apparent breadth.
3. Interpretation:
- Paradox: True wisdom (knowing) is not about accumulating vast but shallow knowledge (being extensive). Conversely, those who seek to know everything often lack depth or true understanding.
- Taoist Principle: Reflects Lao Tzu’s emphasis on simplicity, focus, and the limitations of intellectual pride. Depth of insight arises from humility and selective focus, not from vanity of “knowing it all.”
4. Modern Analogies:
- Specialization vs. Generalization: A specialist (知者) masters one field deeply, while a generalist (博者) may sacrifice depth for breadth.
- Quality over Quantity: True understanding requires discarding the unnecessary (a core Taoist theme).
5. Practical Implication:
- To attain wisdom, avoid scattering energy on superficial pursuits. Focus on essential truths (the Tao).
6. Contrast with Confucianism:
- Unlike Confucian valorization of broad learning (博学), Taoism prioritizes intuitive, concentrated wisdom.
Summary: The phrase critiques the illusion that breadth equals knowledge, advocating instead for depth rooted in the Tao’s simplicity.