肇論新疏 1.88

1.88

承前談真而來。意云：雖逆俗招無味之謗，只可談真使人返悟，不可順俗而令不入。上士聞真勤而行之，中士聞真若存若亡、疑信相半，下士聞真則拍手大笑，反為淡泊不復顧慕。文出老書，故順而釋之。

This follows on from speaking of the true above. The meaning is: although going against the conventional invites the slander of being tasteless, one can only speak of the true to cause people to awaken and return, and must not follow the conventional and prevent them from entering. When superior persons hear the true, they practice it diligently; when middling persons hear the true, it is as if it exists and as if it does not, half doubting and half believing; when inferior persons hear the true, they clap their hands and laugh loudly, considering it plain and bland, and no longer look upon it with yearning. The text comes from the book of Laozi, hence it is explained in accordance with it.