The No. 1 Wisdom in the World: About the Art of Being Human

Author: Li Zhen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Regarding how to be a person, the author's insights can be summed up in four sentences:
Being a person, a little foolish is fine.
Dealing with others, a little round is fine.
Happiness, simple is fine.
Success, later is fine.
First, about being foolish. Most people think that being a person means being sharp and cunning. In reality, being a little foolish is better. This "foolishness" means understanding the world deeply, broadening one's mind, not worrying about gain or loss, as Laozi said, "Great wisdom seems foolish, great skill seems clumsy, great speech seems slow, and great courage seems timid." When we observe the world, we are often tricked by our own cleverness, while those who achieve great things and live effortlessly are often the "foolish" or "slow-witted." Zheng Banqiao said, "Life is hard to be foolish." The wisdom here should be savored carefully.
Second, about being "square." While being a person requires being "square," one cannot always be rigid when dealing with others. One must master the art of social interaction, which is to be "round."
Third, about happiness. Life should be joyful, not always filled with frowns. Yet, people often have more worries than happiness because they have too many desires. Too many expectations cannot be met, leading to endless troubles. If one appropriately controls unrealistic desires and expectations, simplifies life and interpersonal relationships, and keeps the mind pure and calm, life can be much happier.
Fourth, about success. A successful life is everyone's hope. Achieving success early is certainly good, but there is also the risk of reaching the peak too early, which may lead to a downward slope afterward. These four points are the four parts of the author's work. At the beginning of each chapter, the author quotes one or two sayings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, then expands on them, drawing from the past to prove the present, sharing their insights.