A great country is like the lower outlet of a river. It is the world's meeting ground, the world's female.
Interpretation
A great nation serves as a unifying force and nurtures diverse cultures and ideas.
Laozi's quote likens a great country to the lower outlet of a river, emphasizing its role as a converging point for various peoples and cultures. Just as a river gathers water from different sources and flows into the ocean, a successful nation brings together diverse influences, fostering harmony and collaboration, making it a nurturing ground for human development and creativity.
In practice
In a speech about national unity, one might quote Laozi to emphasize the importance of inclusivity.
If you understand others you are smart._x000D_ If you understand yourself you are illuminated._x000D_ If you overcome others you are powerful._x000D_ If you overcome yourself you have strength._x000D_ If you know how to be satisfied you are rich._x000D_ If you can act with vigor, you have a will._x000D_ If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting._x000D_ If you die without loss, you are eternal.
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.
In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.
Rule your mind with serenity rather than with force and manipulation.
I must achieve internal consistency.
The world is becoming an immense military base, and that base is becoming a mental hospital the size of the world. Inside the nuthouse, which ones are crazy?
The only way to retrieve a secret,once known, is to replace it with a lie.
The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.
Democracy is a poor system of government at best; the only thing that can honestly be said in its favor is that it is eight times as good as any other method the human race has ever tried.
I don't think most people are aware of the exotic and extreme tools at the disposal of the most powerful and wealthy men of America when they are bent at silencing accusations against them.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.