25 Saturday Jan 2020
Posted in books
68
The most successful warriors do not look formidable;
The most successful generals do not seem manipulative;
The most successful conquerors do not appear acquisitive;
The most successful leaders of people place themselves beneath them.
They use people’s natural inclinations;
Complying with nature’s way brings true virtue;
Since ancient times this has been the best way.
69
25 Wednesday Dec 2019
Posted in books
67
Many people of the world say this way is great; however,
It never appears great.
—
Something may remain great only if it doesn’t appear great.
To be seen as great attracts lowering, and
Leads to never-ending mediocrity.
—
Learn these three essential guides; then
Preserve and use them:
First, create compassion for everyone;
Second, create moderation for everyone;
Third, never be seen leading anyone.
Through creating compassion for everyone,
each may be vitally alive.
Through creating moderation for everyone,
each may have enough.
Through not seeming to lead anyone,
each may fully develop their own resources.
— However, if you renounce compassion, and appear tough,
Renounce moderation, and are seen filled with abundance,
Renounce being the follower, and are seen leading people,
You are soon put down!
—
If the leader is compassionate,
The people will cope with problems themselves.
When the people themselves conquer problems the nation is secure.
Nature fills with compassion those it would see flourish.
68
25 Monday Nov 2019
Posted in books
66
How did the rivers and seas get so low?
By eroding while seeking lowness.
If you wish to be below people
You must place yourself beneath them;
If you wish to lead people
You must place yourself behind them.
—
Using this method you may be above people, yet
The people will not feel burdened;
You may lead people, and
The people will not feel pulled;
The multitudes of the world will rejoice, and
The people will not weary of their burdens.
If you do not contend with anyone,
No one will contend with you.
67
25 Friday Oct 2019
Posted in Uncategorized
65
The ancients who understood the application of the Tao
Didn’t aim to make their people clever,
But rather to keep them simple.
—
People become difficult to govern when they are clever; and
When those who govern a country are seen to be clever,
Everyone labors under a curse.
A nation whose leaders use the principles
Of performing attractive actions and returning to simplicity
Is blessed with natural virtues.
—
These natural virtues are deep and far-reaching.
They help all things and return them to their simple selves.
66
25 Wednesday Sep 2019
Posted in Uncategorized
64
Things that are quiet are easy for you to handle;
Things not yet apparent are easy for you to forestall;
Things that are weak are easy for you to break; and
Things that are scanty are easy for you to scatter.
Therefore nullify potential problems before they exist, and
Revert little problems before disorder appears.
—
A great tree begins with a tiny sprout;
A high tower begins with accumulating single stones; and
A journey of a thousand days begins with a single step.
—
When you perform an act,
You are responsible for the ensuing damage;
When you hold a thing,
You are responsible for its loss.
If you do things by attracting their being done,
You cannot be faulted for any damage or loss.
—
If people get too close to their goals they vanish. So
Create goals at the end as at the beginning, and
Your ends will be completed.
Seek attractive goals, and
Never make things too difficult to get.
—
Learn the art of attractive doing;
Restore to the people what they have lost;
Restore natural things to their way; and
Never act directly.
65
25 Sunday Aug 2019
Posted in Uncategorized
63
Whether the tasks be great or small, many or few,
To do something, attract its being done;
To perform an action, attract that action into existence.
—
Solve difficult problems while they are easy;
Deal with big problems while they are still small;
Difficult problems arise from the easy ones, and
Big problems grow from little ones.
—
Be simple!
From the beginning to the end never do anything difficult.
When you do simple things, the multitudes may follow, and
Many things will be accomplished.
—
Promises always lack foresight.
They are easily made, but
Surely, promises lead to problems.
When you realize what creates problems,
You may solve them before they arise.
64
25 Thursday Jul 2019
Posted in Uncategorized
62
The method of Tao is the secret source to all in the universe,
The good person’s private guide, and
The person attracting goodness’ eternal essence.
—
With attractive words anything may be successfully proffered, but
It is a leader’s behavior which the people try to follow.
—
The people will never discard a person attracting goodness;
It is for this quality that princes are brought into leadership;
It is for this quality that ministers are appointed.
—
Rather than lead the people on a stallion with sword raised high,
—
Demonstrate the virtue of quiet lowliness, and
Guide them along the Tao path.
—
Why do the wise ones value this way?
Why? Indeed! Don’t they say,
“What is sought will be found,” and
“Can one be saved by sinning?”
63
25 Tuesday Jun 2019
Posted in Uncategorized
61
A great government is one that makes its self lowly.
The people may follow lowly actions, and
The whole country becomes peaceful.
—
A wife by quiet means controls the husband,
When she places her self beneath him.
Similarly, great countries may control smaller ones,
By placing themselves beneath those smaller countries.
Or little countries may control larger ones,
By being able to place themselves beneath those larger countries.
Both must acquire that which they need to survive; thus
The great country sometimes submits to the small one.
25 Saturday May 2019
Posted in Uncategorized
60
Governing a big country is like attracting little fish.
—
When you are in the role of leader use this Tao as a guide,
For the essence of this teaching is leading with attractions.
Leading a people by attracting them with their original motivations
Will be leading them with their inner inclinations.
Use their historical motivation to lead your people, for
Leading a people with their common core unites their behavior.
The wise prince also leads the people away from harm.
These two kinds of leading do not interfere with each other, and
The people proceed vigorously along their natural path.
61
25 Thursday Apr 2019
Posted in Uncategorized
59
When you are governing a group and doing Heaven’s work,
Always be seen as moderate in your behavior.
The habit of moderation is best learned while young, and
Skill in moderation heaps and accumulates true virtue.
—
When you do things by attractive actions
No one can know your motivations, and
When no one knows your motivations,
Your actions will not be impeded.
By knowing the historical motivations of a group,
You may help it along its natural path.
By having root understandings of a group’s original motivations,
You develop a profound and lasting insight into their behavior.
60
