What makes a kingdom great is its being like a down-flowing river,--the central point towards which all the smaller streams under Heaven converge; or like the female throughout the world, who by quiescence always overcomes the male. And quiescence is a form of humility.

See others as yourself. See families as your family. See towns as your town. See countries as your country. See worlds as your world.

Nothing on earth is so weak and yielding as water, but for breaking down the firm and strong it has no equal.

The soft and weak can overcome the hard and strong.

Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.

The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'

Those who make their living by collecting taxes cause the people to starve; when the people starve, the tax collectors, having no one to tax, starve also