There is a sentence in the Tao Te Ching: "Those who know others are wise, and those who know themselves are clear." This sounds a bit like a riddle left by the ancestors, but in fact, the truth contained in it is very deep.
First of all, let's talk about the "wisdom of those who know people". The meaning of this sentence is that those who know how to understand and perceive others are wise. That sounds easy to understand, right? In life, people who know how to observe others and understand their thoughts and feelings are usually better at getting along with people and dealing with interpersonal relationships. This ability allows a person to navigate society with ease, both at work and in private life.
接下来的那句话“自知者明”就更深一层了。 This sentence says that people who truly understand themselves are truly wise. In fact, it may be even more difficult to understand oneself than to understand others. People often make a fool of themselves or are unwilling to face their shortcomings and weaknesses. True self-knowledge, however, is about recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, knowing your true thoughts and feelings, and recognizing your place in the world.
Why is self-knowledge so important? Because only by truly knowing yourself can you take control of your life and make choices that are truly right for you. For example, you have to know what you like, what you hate, and where your strengths and weaknesses are. Knowing these things can make you more wise and rational when faced with choices. It's not just a matter of career choices or lifestyles, it's about a deep understanding of the inner world.
From a psychological point of view, "self-knowing" emphasizes the importance of self-awareness. People with a high degree of self-awareness have a better understanding of their emotions, motivations, beliefs, and values. This deep self-understanding helps with personal growth and also improves the ability to cope with life's challenges. For example, recognizing that you may feel anxious or fearful in a particular situation can help people develop strategies to cope with those emotions so that they can deal with these situations more effectively.
In real life, it is not easy to achieve "self-knowledge". This requires constant self-reflection and being honest with yourself. Sometimes, this can mean confronting some not-so-pleasant truths. But it is only through such a process that people can truly understand themselves and thus live a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
The Tao Te Ching's "Those who know others are wise, and those who know themselves are wise" is not just a simple aphorism, but profoundly reveals the two levels of wisdom: understanding others and understanding oneself. These two complement each other and together make up a person's all-round wisdom and understanding.