The above quote is the first sentence of Dao De Jing. I re-read this book almost once per 2 years. The first time I read it when I was studying F.6, Chinese History. Every time when I pick this up, I could realize some new finding.
I often try to understand the real meaning. The translation is for the Way, if it could be told on mouth, this Way would not last for long and it is not the real way. It is extremely abstract. What is Way? It can be interpreted as the way of behavior. Still abstract. I try to find an English word to translate the meaning. I fail many times until I found the word – Sophisticated
To be sophisticated, it means one could get along well with friends, colleagues, managers and all walks of life in an organization. But it is not limited to just harmonize people but also being able to mobilize people to the unified goal. Nevertheless, if the subject tells other how to do that, it will no longer work. For instance, if the object got to know that he is just flattered by the subject on purpose, the object will no more respect the subject and listen to him.
Let’s put in another way; if a manager strongly requests all the staff tense up their mind all the time, the first reaction of the staff is disgruntle because it means long working hours, > 10 hours a day and > 5 days a week at work. Instead, if a manager just beg for more responsibility because of urgent and compelling situation while it is not a rule to work long time in every week, the staff will end up with stronger sense of responsibility and work effectively in order to avoid any sacrifice of private time. By all means, in case of emergency, they will be less disgruntled to work longer hours. Actually, they could realize the urgency. The result will be better.
Let’s try to do in this way: The way of sophistication could not be told; otherwise, it would lose its effect.
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