When he says, "How about a nice little shampoo this morning?" we are prompt to indicate:
The wise man attends to the inner significance of things and does not concern himself with outward appearances.
When, as we sit in the chair, we see (in the mirror before us) the lovely reflection of the beautiful manicure lady, and she arches her eyebrows at us to convey the intimation that we ought to have our hands attended to, old Lao-Tse is ready with the answer. We reassure ourself with his remark:
Though he be surrounded with sights that are magnificent, the wise man will remain calm and unconcerned.
When the shine boy offers to burnish our shoes, we call his attention to:
He who closes his mouth and shuts his sense gates will be free from trouble to the end of life.
When the barber suggests that if we were now to have a liberal douche of bay rum sprayed over our poll it would be a glittering consummation of his task, we show him the words:
If one tries to improve a thing, he mars it.
And when (finally) the irritated tonsor suggests that if we don't wait so long next time before getting our hair cut we will not be humiliated by our condition, we exhibit Lao-Tse's aphorism:
The wise man is inaccessible to favour or hate; he cannot be reached by profit or injury; he cannot be honoured or humiliated.