when the great man learns the way, he follows it with diligence;

when the ccmon man learns the way, he follows it on occasion;

when the mean man learns the way, he laughs out loud;

those who do not laugh, do not learn at all.

therefore it is said:

who understands the way seems foolish;

who progresses on the way seems to fail;

who follows the way seems to wander.

for the finest harmony appears plain;

the brightest truth appears coloured;

the richest character appears inccplete;

the bravest heart appears meek;

the simplest nature appears inconstant. the square, perfected, has no corner;

music, perfected, has no melody;

love, perfected, has no climax;

art, perfected, has no meaning.

the way can be neither sensed nor known:

it transmits sensation and transcends knowledge.