Chinese
Spiritual Leader and
Philosopher
(Lived in approximately the 6th Century BC)
"Avoid putting yourself before others, and you can become a leader among men."
"Conquering others takes force, conquering yourself is true strength."
"Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench.
Care about other people's approval and you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity. "
"From caring comes courage."
"A good manager is best when people barely know that he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him."
"Great acts are made up of small deeds."
"He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted."
"He who is contented is rich."
"He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough."
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."
"Knowing ignorance is strength. Ignoring knowledge is sickness."
"Muddy water, let stand becomes clear."
"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."
"One who is too insistent on his own views, finds few to agree with him."
"Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment."
"Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of happiness."
"Silence is a source of great strength."
"To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders."
"Water is fluid, soft and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong."
"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."
"When the effective leader is finished with his work, the people say it happened naturally."
"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you."
