In modern science, a central question is how to understand the behavior of atoms — the subject of quantum mechanics. In the humanities, the parallel question is how to understand who we are as human beings. The ancient sage Laozi gestures toward this insight with sayings such as “seeing the small is clarity” (見小曰明) and “knowing oneself is clarity” (自知者明). These suggest that true wisdom begins with recognizing one’s smallness. Smallness can be beautiful and powerful; without this awareness, people risk becoming inhuman and harming others.
