There is another very important aspect of "retiring after success", that is, you must be modest and not argue before you can retire. Laozi declared: "The sage's way should not be to fight" (Chapter 8 1), "It is called the virtue of fighting, and the strength of employing people can make heaven and ancient times fit together" (Chapter 68). Laozi's "indisputable" attitude towards life is not a passive escape from society or seclusion in the mountains, but requires people to conform to the laws of nature and avoid unnecessary disputes. Not competing for fame and fortune with others is a lofty outlook on life and another important principle of Laozi's mental health care thought.
Lao Tzu once compared Tao to the three characteristics of water, namely, benefiting things, striving for success and striving for success. In Laozi's view, simplicity and modesty are the virtues of saints. Legalists and Taoist saints should take modesty as a magic weapon, and modesty can have positive results. The sage embodies the original virtue of Tao in the universe, and the virtue of Tao is inaction and simplicity. Therefore, saints should also be honest, simple and modest. "Don't dispute" means not to stretch one's career desire and ask rulers not to plunder people's wealth and accumulate wealth, but don't show their edge when getting along with others, don't beg for too much fame and fortune, and be restrained and peaceful when dealing with people. Only by struggling can we conform to nature and enter the realm of indifference, simplicity and purity.
Laozi lived in the late Spring and Autumn Period, with political turmoil, social chaos and fragmentation. Faced with such a social situation, he put forward the principle of "keeping one daughter". Chapter 28 of Tao Te Ching points out: "Knowing your man and keeping your woman is the world's best". I know what a strong man is, but I would like to be a stream in the world. He believes that only by doing this can people return to nature and realize the great governance of the world. Laozi's "guarding women" is based on "knowing men", which naturally cannot be understood as shrinking or escaping, but contains domination. Keeping a woman and knowing a man tells people to be born on earth, on the big stage of society and in the most suitable and appropriate position, which is "indisputable"
Laozi believes that all disasters in the world begin with struggle, and the struggle begins with people's greed, so he not only emphasizes no desire, but also urges people to be "simple, selfish, without desire and desire." Despise fame and fortune, be indifferent to one's own ambition, and be content with Zhi Zhi. He believes that only in this way can we live a normal life according to human nature, coordinate interpersonal relationships and make society function normally.
The "indisputable" specific behavior, "Eight Chapters of Tao Te Ching" says: "Good is like water. Water is good for everything, and it is not disputed. Water is evil for everyone, so there is no way. " The meaning of this passage is: lofty virtue is like water. Water can create everything, regardless of height, and is willing to stay in a place that everyone hates, similar to Tao. Life is like water, avoid high and low; My heart is as quiet and deep as water; Giving nourishes everything like water; Talking is like water. If it is blocked, it will stop; if it is opened, it will flow. Politics is simple and quiet as water; Do things like water to adapt to wit; Behavior sometimes dries up like water. All this is precisely because it is "indisputable", so there is no blame. This is the mentality and behavior that Lao Zi thinks the most perfect personality should have.
Lao Tzu once took Jianghai as a metaphor, saying that Jianghai can become the king of thousands of waters because it is good at living in a humble place under thousands of waters. "Jianghai can become the king of all the valleys because of its kindness. It is a saint who wants to go to the people and must say it; If you want to be an ancestor, you must be behind you. It is based on the position of saints and the fact that people are not important and people are not harmful. This is the music of the world, and I never tire of it. It is indisputable, so the world can't compete with it "(Chapter 66).
Laozi opposes grandiose pride and advocates modesty. Laozi said, "What is expensive is cheap, and what is expensive is superior. Therefore, the prince called himself a lonely man. This kind of non-base evil does not cause a few reputations, and there is no reputation "(Chapter 39). In other words, the arrogant will fail, and the arrogant will do nothing. Modesty is the greatest virtue of mankind. Take modesty as the foundation, not the pursuit of hypocrisy, show off and honor. He also said: "I don't see myself, so I am clear; Self-evident, so obvious; Do not cut yourself, have merit; If you are not proud, you will grow up "(Chapter 22). In other words: a saint does not show his respect, so his respect is self-evident; It is not noble, so noble is self-evident; Don't show off your achievements, so there are merits; Don't rely on their abilities, so that you can learn more. Therefore, Lao Tzu earnestly warned people that if they succeed, they will not live, and they can rush back to save their lives.