The mature person perceives the fruitlessness of rigid, external methodologies.

Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The less one knows.

In order to eliminate the negative influences, simply ignore them.

The rigid tree will be felled.

Highest good is like water. Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to be, it comes closest to the way.

Much knowledge will corrupt the heart,/When partly understood,/And so the people grow too smart,/But neither wise nor good.

A tree that is unbending, is easily broken.