Who the sage is doesn't matter; what matters is the absence of sages. The term "sage" proliferates, mutates, and parasitizes in the culture of this land like a virus. In the minds of countless people, it takes root as an unshakeable belief. Many people are constantly thinking about finding someone who transcends humanity, someone perfect, someone flawless, someone with great powers. They then worship such a person as a deity, hoping to be saved from their predicaments. Their entire lives are steeped 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 predicaments. Because everyone is waiting for sages, waiting for platforms, waiting for benevolent authorities. Waiting for saviors who can pull them out of the muck. To fight for their rights, to voice their grievances, to plan their futures. They always expect the actions of others to change their fate. Therefore, they lack any subjective initiative. They strictly adhere to 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 the abyss.
Moreover, once sage thinking is preset in their minds, it also means they automatically accept what the sages say and do as absolutely correct, absolutely reasonable, and absolutely true, beyond doubt. They will deeply engrave the sages' codes of conduct and classic sayings in their minds. As soon as they see someone deviating or being disobedient, they will conduct strict criticism, suppression, attack, and sanctions to force the other party to submit. If you ask them why they do this, why they say that, they will surely take pride in quoting, "The sage said XXX, the sage did XXX. What you say and do is completely heretical. It is utterly unforgivable and violates 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 see themselves as human beings but as tools. This is the most toxic aspect of sage thinking: deifying people, demonizing humanity, and objectifying oneself. This kind of belief in sages only creates a batch of false sages. Because seeing oneself as a sage in the eyes of others 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 that sage.
Once someone consciously and actively wants to become a sage, it means they have an idol burden. With an idol burden, it means they need to disguise themselves, need to perform. By packaging themselves everywhere, boasting about themselves, making themselves appear perfect and sacred. But behind the scenes, they are engaged in "cannibalistic" activities. What is the cost of this game? You must keep performing. You are not allowed to fall, not allowed to make mistakes, not allowed to say a wrong word, because you have become the carrier of faith. A recent example is the success guru Yang Taoming, who is the most typical case. Once exposed, once the facade collapses, once the car flips, 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, 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-enforced enslaved thinking, a garbage mentality.