Why is the sea king of a hundred streams? Because it lies below them... If the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility. If he would lead them, he must follow behind. In this way when the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed.
Interpretation
True leadership involves humility and selflessness.
This quote by Laozi emphasizes the importance of humility in leadership. It suggests that a wise leader, like the sea that nurtures many streams, should not seek to dominate but instead serve the people from a position of humility. By adopting this approach, the leader ensures that the people feel free and unoppressed, thus fostering a harmonious community.
In practice
In a speech about community service, one might cite this quote to emphasize the importance of serving others.
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.
Faith,Waiting in the heart of a seed, Promises a miracle of life which cannot prove at once.
Mistakes are, after all, the foundations of truth, and if a man does not know what a thing is, it is at least an increase in knowledge if he knows what it is not.
The best way to find out whether you're on the right path? Stop looking at the path.
I know everything I need to know already," Rigg always said... To which Father always replied,"See how ignorant you are? You don't even know why you need to know the things you don't know yet." "So tell me," said Rigg. "I would but you're too ignorant to understand the reasons why your ignorance is a fatal disease.
It was better, he thought, to fail in attempting exquisite things than to succeed in the department of the utterly contemptible.
So why do I write, torturing myself to put it down? Because in spite of myself I've learned some things. Without the possibility of action, all knowledge comes to one labeled "file and forget," and I can neither file nor forget. Nor will certain ideas forget me; they keep filing away at my lethargy, my complacency. Why should I be the one to dream this nightmare?
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.