Who the sage is doesn't matter; what matters is the absence of sages. The term "sage" proliferates, mutates, and parasitizes like a virus in the culture of this land. In the minds of countless people, it takes root as an unshakable belief. A large number of people think every day about finding someone who transcends humanity, someone perfect, someone flawless, someone immensely powerful. They then worship this person as a deity, hoping to be saved from their troubles. Their entire lives are immersed in the influence of sage-like thinking.
Once this sage mentality takes hold, many people's first reaction is not "How should I change?" but rather "Who can save me?" This means that they themselves are almost never able to escape their troubles. Because everyone is waiting for sages, waiting for platforms, waiting for benevolent authorities. Waiting for saviors who can pull them out of the muck, who can advocate for them, who can clear their grievances, who can plan their futures. They always expect others' actions to change their fate. Therefore, they lack any subjective initiative. They strictly follow what the sages demand. They completely entrust their future to one person or one platform. Once this mentality is established, they will inevitably be led into a pit.
Furthermore, if they preset a sage mentality in their minds, it also means they automatically accept what the sages say and do as absolutely correct, absolutely reasonable, and absolutely true, without a doubt. They engrave the sages' codes of conduct and classic sayings deeply in their minds. As soon as they see someone deviating or being disobedient, they engage in strict criticism, suppression, attack, and sanctions, forcing the other party to yield. If you ask them why they do this or say that, they will proudly quote, "The sage said XXX, the sage did XXX. What you say and do is completely heretical. It is utterly unforgivable, completely violating the sage's norms. I am now helping you to correct your ways and return to the right path." They automatically act as the sages' enforcers, defenders, and supporters.
Under the influence of sage thinking, they do not regard themselves as human beings but as tools. This is the most toxic aspect of sage thinking: it deifies people, demonizes humanity, and objectifies oneself. This kind of belief in sages will only produce a batch of false sages. Because seeing oneself as a sage in others' eyes can bring everything: power, money, the worship of followers, traffic from platforms, and the trust of the public... Every word they say will be recorded as a golden saying, and every decision they make will be interpreted as far-sighted. This will certainly attract many people to take great risks to actively play the role of the sage.
Once someone consciously and actively wants to become a sage, it means they have an idol burden. With an idol burden comes the need to disguise and perform. They package themselves everywhere, boast about themselves, making themselves appear perfect and sacred. But behind the scenes, they are engaged in exploitative activities. What is the cost of this game? You must keep performing. You are not allowed to fall, make mistakes, or say the wrong thing because you have become the vessel of faith. A recent example is the success guru Yang Taoming, who is the most typical case. Once exposed, once a scandal erupts, the glorious image shatters, and the disguise is torn away. Those who once elevated you to the altar will be the first to drag you into hell.
Additionally, countless sages have appeared throughout history, such as Qin Shi Huang and Han Wu, or Tang Zong and Song Zu. Look at what they did. History books boast of their great achievements, expanding territories and benefiting the people. But the reality is that they killed indiscriminately, leaving the people in misery, seeking personal glory while digging pits for others. These so-called sages are essentially tyrants masquerading under the guise of saving the world. Therefore, sage thinking is fundamentally a form of enslaved and self-enslaved weak thinking, a garbage mentality.