When you find that someone has cheated you, do not announce it. When someone insults you, do not let your countenance betray your annoyance.
This will furnish you with an inexhaustible source of good humour and advantages.
觉人之诈不形于言，受人之悔不动于色，此中有无穷意味，亦有无穷受用。
Notes
This passage from Cai Gen Tan (Tending the roots of wisdom) reveals the sophisticated wisdom of implicit restraint in human interactions:
- Detecting deceit yet refraining from exposure;
- Enduring insult yet concealing anger.
Such forbearance embodies profound philosophy and yields enduring rewards.
Seeing through without exposing:
Choosing not to unveil falsehood reflects neither ignorance nor surrender, but strategic discernment for optimal outcomes.
Enduring humiliation without fury:
Concealing emotion signifies not weakness, but disarming malice through composure, seizing control through stillness.
Transcend primitive reactions to provocation. Eschew petty retaliation; prioritize inner sovereignty — governing emotions and rhythm amid chaos. True mastery begins with mastering one’s words and reactions.
Leave a Reply