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Trying to understand is like straining through muddy water. Have the patience to wait! Be still and allow the mud to settle.
"Trying to understand is like straining through muddy water. Have the patience to wait! Be still and allow the mud to settle."— Lao Tzu
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Meaning of this quote
Agitated attempts to force clarity can make judgment harder. The muddy-water image recommends allowing a disturbed situation to settle before deciding.
Key takeaway:
Pause when agitation is obscuring your judgment.
Origin of the quote
Modern paraphrase related to Tao Te Ching, Chapter 15.
Who actually said this?
Commonly attributedThe exact three-sentence formulation was found in quotation collections without a named translator. The related ancient image does not establish this wording as a literal quotation.
