The sage is often a lone wolf in a forest crowded with the feeble minded. It is wise to avoid unnecessary contact with people as this can dampen the spirit. It is said it is better to be quiet and thought of as dumb then to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt. Hence, a follower of the Dao does not feel the burden to engage in small talk. He concerns himself not with popularity but with his constant engagement with the Dao.
