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Quotes by Chinese Authors
"To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence."
"Even when walking in the company of two other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of the one I copy, the bad points of the other I correct in myself."
"Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots."
"It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them."
"Die Wahrheit hat keinen Erfolg."
"Be stern in the council-chamber, [Show no weakness, and insist on your plans being ratified by the sovereign.] so that you may control the situation."
"The ruler attains wholeness in the correct governance of the people."
"When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself."
"Seek not happiness too greedily and be not fearful of unhappiness."
"Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself."
"If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them."
"He who is concerned only with the purity of his own life ruins the great human relations."
"Having given all he had He then is very rich indeed."
"Allow the heart to empty itself of all turmoil! Retrieve the utter tranquility of the mind from which you issued.Although all forms are dynamic,and we all grow and transform,each of us is compelled to return to our root. Our root is quietude."
"We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors."
"I am not one who was born with great wisdom. I love the ancients and diligently seek wisdom among them."
"Danger has a bracing effect."
"Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage."
"When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves."
"LoveEmbracing Tao, you become embraced.Supple, breathing gently, you become reborn.Clearing your vision, you become clear.Nurturing your beloved, you become impartial.Opening your heart, you become accepted.Accepting the World, you embrace Tao.Bearing and nurturing,Creating but not owning,Giving without demanding,Controlling without authority,This is love."
"Klar sieht, wer von ferne sieht, nebelhaft, wer Anteil nimmt."
"When the wind blows,the grass bends."
"Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing."
"To lead people, you must follow behind."
"It is wealth to be content."
"As for the best leaders the people do not notice their existence. The next best the people honour and praise. The next the people fear and the next the people hate. When the best leader's work is done the people say 'we did it ourselves!'"
"Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle ofsoftness overcoming hardness."
"He wins his battles by making no mistakes.Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated."
"A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves."
"Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows, the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing."
"To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons."
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