The sage wears rough clothing and holds the jewel in his heart.

The saying contrasts outward simplicity with inward worth. “Rough clothing” suggests a deliberate refusal of status display—plain living, humility, and freedom from social vanity—while “the jewel in his heart” points to an inner treasure: virtue, insight, or alignment with the Dao. The image implies that genuine wisdom is not advertised; it is carried quietly and protected from being turned into reputation or commodity. It also critiques cultures that equate refinement with moral value, proposing instead that the highest cultivation may look ordinary (even shabby) from the outside while remaining luminous within.