The best athlete wants his opponent at his best. The best general enters the mind of his enemy. The best businessman serves the communal good. The best leader follows the will of the people. All of the embody the virtue of non-competition. Not that they don't love to compete, but they do it in the spirit of play. In this they are like children and in harmony with the Tao.

The sage knows without traveling, perceives without looking, completes without acting.

The Tao never acts with force, yet there is nothing that it can not do.

The rigid tree will be felled.

Speaking with kindness creates confidence, thinking with kindness creates profoundness, giving with kindness creates love.

Praise leads to weakness. Getting it causes fear, losing it causes fear.

Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish, too much handling will spoil it.