Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, Chapter 12, warns against the pursuit of external things. The text emphasizes that an over-focus on sensory pleasures—sight, sound, taste, and material possessions—leads to confusion and a loss of one's true nature. It contrasts this pursuit with the sage's path, which prioritizes inner cultivation and contentment, rejecting external distractions. The chapter uses vivid examples to illustrate how external desires cloud judgment and hinder inner peace. Ultimately, the message promotes a simple life focused on inner harmony over material gains.