If a great country yields to a small country, it will conquer the small country. If a small country yields to a great country, it will be conquered by the great country.
Man is ruled by Earth. Earth is ruled by Heaven. Heaven is ruled by the Way. The Way is ruled by itself.
The sage has no concern for himself, but makes the concerns of others his own.
The sage regards things as difficult, and thereby avoids difficulty.
That which offers no resistance can enter where there is no space.
People aren't against you; they are for themselves. The most dangerous risk of all - the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later. He who conquers others is strong, he who conquers himself is mighty.