He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much.
If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow them from behind.
The small is easy to scatter.
Excellent soldiers are not furious.
The sage acts without taking credit. He accomplishes without dwelling on it. He does not want to display his worth.
When the Way governs the world, the proud stallions drag dung carriages. When the Way is lost to the world, war horses are bred outside the city.