These possessions of a simpleton being the three I choose and cherish: to care, to be fair, to be humble.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of caring, fairness, and humility as key virtues in life.
In this quote, Laozi highlights three essential qualities that he values above material possessions: caring for others, being fair in dealings, and maintaining humility. These virtues represent a deeper understanding of what it means to live a meaningful life, suggesting that true wealth lies in character and the quality of our interactions with others rather than in material goods or status.
In practice
During a leadership seminar, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of character over position.
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.
It's very liberating when you finally realize it's impossible to make everyone like you.
I have lived a long time, and one thing I have come to see is that one is well served by a degree of both humility and charity when judging the inner workings of another person's heart
No one is perfect. Your ERA is not zero. You're not going to have 30 wins. And your batting average isn't going to be 1.000. So you don't have the right to verbally talk out about somebody. Look at yourself. Did you do everything you could do? Did you start your day off right? Are you perfect?
Healing for me is being able to sit next to the butcher and say 'Yes, Iβm sitting next to the butcher now,' instead of saying 'there is no butcher'.
The finished man, you know, is difficult to please; a growing mind will ever show you gratitude. --Faust 1, lines 182-3
The dullness of the fool is the whetstone of the wits.
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