41. Following
when the great man learns the way, he follows it with diligence;
when the common 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 incomplete;
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.