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.