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.
I would rather a thousand times be five minutes at the feet of Christ than listen a lifetime to all the wise men in the world.
There is an old saying, or should be, that it is a wise economist who recognizes the scope of his own generalizations.
Very early on, you figure out that you put your self-esteem in the hands of strangers. There's a different commodity. There's the Helena Bonham Carter that everyone thinks they know, who really has nothing to do with me. But you just have to let that go.
Passion mutates into procedures, into rules and roles. Instead of purpose, we focus on policies. Instead of being free to create, we impose constraints that squeeze the life out of us.
The only happy author in this world is he who is below the care of reputation.
A person that started in to carry a cat home by the tail was gitting knowledge that was always going to be useful to him, and warn't ever going to grow dim or doubtful.
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