Excellent leaders of people lower themselves.

But in the present day men cast off gentleness, and are all for being bold; they spurn frugality, and retain only extravagance; they discard humility, and aim only at being first. Therefore they shall surely perish.

Fail to honor people, they fail to honor you.

Meandering leads to perfection.

Things exalted then decay. This is going against the Way. What goes against the Way meets an early end.

Those who would take over the earth and shape it to their will, never, I notice succeed.

Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy.