A great country is like the lower outlet of a river. It is the world's meeting ground, the world's female.
Interpretation
A great nation serves as a unifying force and nurtures diverse cultures and ideas.
Laozi's quote likens a great country to the lower outlet of a river, emphasizing its role as a converging point for various peoples and cultures. Just as a river gathers water from different sources and flows into the ocean, a successful nation brings together diverse influences, fostering harmony and collaboration, making it a nurturing ground for human development and creativity.
In practice
In a speech about national unity, one might quote Laozi to emphasize the importance of inclusivity.
If you understand others you are smart._x000D_ If you understand yourself you are illuminated._x000D_ If you overcome others you are powerful._x000D_ If you overcome yourself you have strength._x000D_ If you know how to be satisfied you are rich._x000D_ If you can act with vigor, you have a will._x000D_ If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting._x000D_ If you die without loss, you are eternal.
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.
In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.
Rule your mind with serenity rather than with force and manipulation.
If God should desire to raise us to the position of one who is an intimate and shares his secrets, we ought to accept this gladly.
Capitalism and the market are presented as synonymous, but they are not. Capitalism is both the enemy of the market and democracy.
Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still know where his towel is is clearly a man to be reckoned with.
The realm of consciousness is much vaster than thought can grasp. When you no longer believe everything you think, you step out of thought and see clearly that the thinker is not who you are.
And even a liar can be scared into telling the truth, same as honest man can be tortured into telling a lie.
Not only do words infect, egotize, narcotize, and paralyze, but they enter into and colour the minutest cells of the brain. . . .
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