Tao Te Ching, Chapter 12

Translation

12.

1.

Colour's five hues from th' eyes their sight will take; Music's five notes the ears as deaf can make; The flavours five deprive the mouth of taste; The chariot course, and the wild hunting waste Make mad the mind; and objects rare and strange, Sought for, men's conduct will to evil change.

2. Therefore the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the belly, and not the (insatiable longing of the) eyes. He puts from him the latter, and prefers to seek the former.

Practical Reading

Sensory overload obscures true needs. Modern media and advertising create constant distraction. Clarity requires filtering noise. The ability to say no to sensory inputs protects mental space for what matters.