The surface meaning is straightforward: when you stop trying to be someone else or outdo others, people will naturally hold you in esteem. It suggests that genuine self-possession, free from the anxieties of comparison, earns admiration.

The deeper Taoist teaching, as found in the Tao Te Ching, points to the principle of Wu Wei (non-action or effortless action). By embracing your natural state, your De (virtue or inherent power), you align with the Dao, the fundamental principle of the universe. The ego, with its incessant need to compare and compete, is seen as a distortion of this natural flow. When you cease striving against the Dao, you become like a clear stream, reflecting the world without distortion. This unforced authenticity, this lack of striving, is what the sage cultivates. It's not about seeking respect, but about embodying a state where respect is an inevitable consequence of living in harmony with your true nature, unburdened by the artificial constructs of the ego.

In your life: Practice observing your own impulses to compare your achievements or possessions with others, and gently redirect your focus back to your own path and present moment.