Which means more to you, you or your renown? Which brings more to you, you or what you own? I say what you gain is more trouble than what you lose.
All under heaven have a common beginning. This beginning is the mother of the world. Having known the mother, we may proceed to know her children. Having known the children, we should go back and hold onto the mother.
Seeing the small is called clarity; keeping flexible is called strength.
Always bring two baptists with you fishing. If you bring one, they drink all your beer. If you bring two, they don't drink any.
If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done?
Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't.
- Margaret Thatcher
"Anyone who doesn't take truth seriously in small matters
cannot be trusted in large ones either."
— Albert Einstein
"If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end;
if you look for comfort you will not get either."
— C.S. Lewis
When a wise man does not understand, he says: “I do not understand.” The fool and the uncultured are ashamed of their ignorance. They remain silent when a question could bring them wisdom.
- Frank Herbert
All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted.
- Frank Herbert
If you aren't happy with what you've got now, what makes you think you'll behappier with more?
When you look for it there is nothing to see. When you listen for it there is nothing to hear. When you use it it cannot be exhausted.
Act for the peoples benefit; trust them, leave them alone.
The master can keep giving because there is no end to his wealth. He acts without expectation, succeeds without taking credit, and does not think he is better than anyone else.
Someone must risk returning injury with kindness, or hostility will never return to goodwill. So the wise always give without expecting gratitude.