To achieve great success or make significant contributions, yet remain humble and not take personal credit for the achievements; to accomplish something and not boast about it or claim it for oneself.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, the philosopher Laozi proposed dialectical political views. He believed that people in the world understood the opposition between beauty and ugliness, and that existence and non-existence give rise to each other.
A sage governing a state knows what to do and what not to do, adopting a policy of non-action (wu wei); knowledge can be taught or not taught, through a teaching that does not speak.
All things have their own purpose, and the sage does not try to control them. When achievements are made, the sage does not claim credit for them, allowing people to attribute the success to him naturally.