GREAT ELOQUENCE

“Great eloquence seems inarticulate” is a line from the Tao Te Ching that many people find confusing, perhaps because it is so contrary to our experience. We tend to think that someone who is eloquent is also articulate. Why does Lao Tzu say the opposite?

We live in an extrovert culture, where many people possess a glib tongue and the stamina to talk for hours. However, the effectiveness of their communication seems to be inversely proportional to the amount of time they talk. The more they say, the less they convince.

The silent Tao is a the other end of the spectrum. It does not speak, and yet it conveys every possible meaning. It uses no words, but it still communicates in the most effective way possible. It says nothing and everything and at the same time.

The sages are between the Tao and the talkers. They are not completely silent, because they need to function as human beings, but they are also not talkative, and that is what makes them seem inarticulate. They want to deliver the most meaning with the least amount of words. When they succeed in doing so, their eloquence approaches the Tao.

The Tao Today

See if you can express yourself in the same way. Whenever you want to say something, pause and consider. Does it really have to be said? You may be able to skip it altogether. If it really must be said, then challenge yourself to use the least amount of words to convey all the information. You may be surprised by how little you actually have to say.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin