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The Importance of Balance: An Analysis of a Famous Quote on Human Behavior. Et Così il Mondo Mal Va
An Italian graffiti
Image found on Twitter: Graffiti was written in 1529 CE, in the Italian town of Ascoli Piceno.
Who can, doesn’t want to,
Who wants to, can’t,
Who knows how doesn’t act,
Who acts, doesn’t know how,
And that’s how the world gets worse.
This is a famous quote often attributed to Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher, and founder of Taoism.
The quote is a reflection on human behavior and how it can lead to negative outcomes.
The first line, “Who can, doesn’t want to,” suggests that those who do something may not have the motivation or desire to can do it. This could be due to a lack of interest, fear of failure, or other reasons.
The second line, “Who wants to, can’t,” implies that there are people who have the desire to do something but lack the necessary skills or resources to accomplish it. This could be due to a lack of education or training, limited access to resources, or other factors.