If you overesteem great men, people become powerless. If you overvalue possessions, people begin to steal. The Master leads by emptying people's minds and filling their cores, by weakening their ambition and toughening their resolve. He helps people lose everything they know, everything they desire, and creates confusion in those who think that they know. Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the dangers of excessive admiration for power and material wealth, suggesting that true leadership involves liberating people from misguided desires.
Laozi's quote highlights the consequences of idolizing great figures and valuing material possessions excessively. Such attitudes can render individuals powerless or lead them to unethical behavior, like theft. Instead, the 'Master' leader guides others by encouraging them to empty their minds of superficial desires and ambitions, fostering a deeper resilience within. By advocating for a practice of 'not-doing,' Laozi suggests that by letting go of rigid control and expectation, natural order and harmony can emerge in life.
In practice
During a seminar on leadership, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of humility and selflessness in guiding others.
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.
Forgiveness, that noblest of all self-denial, is a virtue which he alone who can practise in himself can willingly believe in another.
Long for what is real. You will then have no time for worrying over what may never happen.
The minute we begin to think we have all the answers, we forget the questions.
Comparing oneself with one's fellow writers is a bad idea. I would not review a fellow writer unless I had something terribly positive to say.
An unreflective mind is a poor roof. Passion, like the rain, floods the house. But if the roof is strong, there is shelter. Whoever follows impure thoughts Suffers in this world and the next. In both worlds he suffers And how greatly.
One word of truth outweighs the whole world.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.