The Taoist Art of Appearing Foolish
In the season one finale of The Newsroom, an HBO series known for its sharp commentary on modern media, the episode titled “The Greater Fool” explores a financial term that initially sounds like a warning.
The “greater fool” is the one who buys high and sells low, foolishly believing that they can succeed where so many others have failed.
This individual is often mocked as naive or arrogant, but beneath the surface lies something deeper—an almost Taoist embrace of appearing foolish.
What if I told you that the world doesn’t need more “smart” people—critics, cynics, and cowards who spend their lives pointing out every potential pitfall, only to avoid any forward movement?
What if, instead, we need more Taoist fools?
People who are willing to appear foolish, ignorant, and, most importantly, courageous enough to take action where others fear to tread.
In a world filled with weaklings, but only a few warriors, the difference between success and failure often comes down to the willingness to embrace the role of the fool.
Success doesn’t come to those who merely see the obstacles—it comes to those who charge headfirst into them.
Too Smart for Your Own Good
Today, we’re facing a societal epidemic of overthinking.
Everywhere you look, you’ll find someone ready to tear down an idea, criticize a bold move, or offer ten reasons why something “won’t work.”
These people are not warriors—they are weaklings.
It’s the easier route, after all.
It’s easy to see all the potential pitfalls and do nothing.
It’s easy to talk a big game, remain on the sidelines, and justify inaction by claiming intellectual superiority.
But here’s the thing: that mentality will never get you anywhere in life.
Think about the biggest accomplishments in history.
They weren’t achieved by the people who sat around nitpicking at every detail.
No, they were achieved by people who took action, who dared to look foolish, and who charged forward regardless of the overwhelming odds.
And that’s the problem: we’ve created a society where it’s safer to be a critic than a creator.
It’s safer to stay in the comfortable role of pointing out flaws than to risk failing while attempting something great.
Cynicism and skepticism have become intellectual shields for cowardice.
But the Taoists, in their timeless wisdom, understood the importance of appearing foolish.
They knew that true power, true success, comes from the willingness to step into the unknown with an open mind and a courageous heart.
Smart People Are Stupid and Foolish People Are Fearless
So let me ask you this: when was the last time you made a bold move?
When was the last time you put yourself out there, knowing full well that people might call you foolish?
The world is full of opportunities that most people never seize.
Why?
Because they’re too busy calculating every possible risk, too concerned with what others will think, or too comfortable where they are.
The “smart” people—the ones who seem to have it all figured out—rarely accomplish anything significant because they never take the leap.
The Taoist concept of appearing foolish is a powerful antidote to this paralysis.
To the outside world, the Taoist fool may seem ignorant or naive, but in reality, they possess a deep understanding of life’s greatest secret: success comes from action.
Not from thinking, not from worrying, and certainly not from trying to appear smart.
From the Tao Te Ching
“Give up learning, and put an end to your troubles.
Is there a difference between yes and no?
Is there a difference between good and evil?
Must I fear what others fear? What nonsense!
Other people are contented, enjoying the sacrificial feast of the ox.
In spring some go to the park, and climb the terrace,
But I alone am drifting, not knowing where I am.
Like a newborn babe before it learns to smile,
I am alone, without a place to go.
Others have more than they need, but I alone have nothing.
I am a fool. Oh, yes! I am confused.
Others are clear and bright,
But I alone am dim and weak.
Others are sharp and clever,
But I alone am dull and stupid.
Oh, I drift like the waves of the sea,
Without direction, like the restless wind.
Everyone else is busy,
But I alone am aimless and depressed.
I am different.
I am nourished by the great mother.”- Translated by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English, 1989, Chapter 20
The fool knows that failure is a possibility, but they also know that inaction guarantees failure.
They understand that to make progress, you must be willing to look foolish.
You must be willing to fail publicly.
And most importantly, you must be willing to move forward regardless of the pitfalls.
But most people don’t have that kind of courage.
They let fear control them.
- Fear of failure.
- Fear of judgment.
- Fear of looking like they don’t know what they’re doing.
And so, they stay stuck in their comfort zones, rationalizing their inaction with clever excuses.
Think about it: what’s holding you back right now?
Is it a lack of knowledge, or is it fear?
Is it because you’re genuinely not ready, or because you’re afraid of appearing foolish?
If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll realize that it’s probably the latter.
You’re afraid of taking a risk because you don’t want to look like a fool.
But the truth is, that’s exactly why you’re stuck.
We live in a world that glorifies safety, predictability, and intelligence, but real success—warrior-level success—requires embracing the role of the fool.
It requires charging forward when everyone else is holding back.
It requires acting with courage, even when you don’t have all the answers.
Failing Forward Like a Fool
The solution to this problem is both simple and profound: you need to become a fool.
Not in the sense of recklessness or stupidity, but in the Taoist sense of embracing the unknown, taking action without overthinking, and being willing to look foolish in the eyes of others.
Here’s why: fools make progress.
While everyone else is busy analyzing and criticizing, the fool is moving forward, learning, adapting, and growing.
The fool doesn’t let the fear of looking stupid stop them from taking the first step.
And because of that, they often end up achieving things that the so-called “smart” people never will.
Think of the greatest innovators, entrepreneurs, and warriors throughout history.
Were they always the smartest people in the room?
No.
But they were often the most courageous.
They were the ones willing to make bold moves, to fail publicly, and to keep going despite the odds.
That’s what separates warriors from weaklings.
Warriors are willing to face overwhelming forces because they know that’s where growth happens.
That is why incidents like the Battle of Thermopylae resonate through history.
Weaklings, on the other hand, are too afraid to engage even in one-on-one challenges.
They see every obstacle as a reason to quit, while warriors see it as an opportunity to grow stronger.
If you want to be successful in life, you need to cultivate the mindset of the Taoist fool.
You need to be willing to charge forward, even when you don’t have all the answers.
You need to embrace the possibility of failure, knowing that it’s the only way to make real progress.
Here’s how you can start embracing your inner fool:
- Take action before you’re ready. Stop waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. It’s not coming. The fool knows that the only way to figure things out is by doing. So take the first step, even if you don’t feel fully prepared.
- Ignore the critics. Whether they come from the outside or inside your own mind, critics are always going to be there. But the fool doesn’t let them dictate their actions. The fool knows that criticism is a sign of movement, and movement is the only way forward.
- Learn from your mistakes. The fool doesn’t expect perfection. They expect to make mistakes, and they learn from them. Every failure is a step closer to success, and the fool embraces that process. They don’t let fear of failure stop them; they use it as fuel to keep going.
- Embrace uncertainty. The Taoist fool understands that life is unpredictable and that trying to control everything is a fool’s errand. Instead, they move with the flow of life, adapting and adjusting as they go. They don’t need to have all the answers before they act because they trust that they’ll figure it out along the way.
- Get comfortable with discomfort. The fool knows that growth happens outside of the comfort zone. They willingly step into uncomfortable situations because they know that’s where real learning occurs. They’re not afraid to be the beginner, the one who doesn’t have it all figured out. In fact, they embrace it.
“Today Is a Good Day to Die!”
When Worf says, “Today is a good day to die,” while he does mean he’s willing to die a physical death because he’s a warrior; more importantly, he means he’s willing to kill the coward in him and in all of us.
In a world full of critics, cynics, and cowards, the Taoist fool stands out.
They are the ones who dare to take action when everyone else is stuck in analysis paralysis.
They are the ones who are willing to look foolish in pursuit of something great.
If you want to be successful, you need to embrace the role of the fool.
You need to be willing to take risks, to fail publicly, and to move forward even when you don’t have all the answers.
You need to ignore the critics and trust that through action, you will figure things out.
The world doesn’t need more “smart” people who point out every possible flaw or risk.
It needs more Taoist fools—people who are courageous enough to take action in the face of uncertainty.
That’s the difference between warriors and weaklings.
Warriors move forward despite the odds.
Weaklings hold back because they’re too afraid of failure.
So if you want to be a warrior—if you want to achieve real success—you need to be willing to look like a fool.
The Taoists knew that true wisdom comes from action, not from trying to appear smart.
It’s time for you to embrace that wisdom, step into the role of the fool, and start making progress toward your goals.
Because in the end, the only real foolishness is not trying at all.
