Although history rewards its highest honors to the art of thinking and the shattering of illusions, modern society has lost this kind of appreciation; and instead, philosophy became suspect and frequently even considered nonsense. Seeing through illusions and deceit, however, remains a priority of the wise and a foundation for authentic integrity—the best support for a thoughtful mind and a virtuous path in life.

Each half of the world laughs at the other half and both sink into foolishness. The wise work hard to become independent from their culture, historical context, and from any solid point of view. Tastes are as diverse as faces. Almost every opinion, every belief, every value system has strong advocates as well as opponents. What inspires one person repels another. What some love others loath. Trying to impose one set of morals on many only makes things worse. For these reasons, we can to a certain extent ignore rebukes and disapproval—for every one who criticizes, another will praise. And for all approvals there will also be condemnations. Only the conclusions of the wise matter.

Never feel "finished" and slip into complacency. Mistaking a successful conclusion as a signal to relax into a self-satisfied stupor begins an inevitable decline into entropy. Instead, the wise view good luck and unexpected success as a foundation to do more, to become more engaged rather than only take a vacation. Letting go of superficial, personal desires, cultivate a big heart, an insatiable capacity for the kind of good luck that can lead to more and more goodness in the world.

In every thought and action, maintain an authentic integrity. At all times hold fast to the highest principles, acting how you would hope and expect for a prince or the officials with the most responsibility and power. Much more than position and birth, this unswerving dedication to the good defines a true leader. For those in power, disregard vanity and pomp but hold firm to the highest standards of virtue.

Understanding and channeling the right people into the right positions requires great skill, insight, and perseverance. Each line of work does best with at least slightly different skill-sets. Discerning and matching the best person for each specific task defines management competence and expertise. The easiest project-matches involve honesty, courage, integrity; the hardest require skill, cleverness, subtlety. And the more foolish the employee, the more challenge in directing them. It takes double the sense to direct those without much. The most respected occupations include variety, independence, meaningfulness, and freedom; the least respected have the most unchanging hours and routine, the most supervision.

Don't bore people with irrelevant details. Too much technical jargon loses people's attention while obscuring the essential issues. Short and to-the-point descriptions lead to effective and timely action while too much talk with irrelevant issues only obscures focus and slows progress. When good and short, statements become twice as effective. And when something isn't said well, if short it won't be as bad. Rambling, pointless trivia increases in inappropriateness in ratio to the level and importance of the person listening. Be particularly careful not to become a talking nuisance to busy people with heavy weights of responsibility—well said is quickly said.

The more we want and try to make people like and respect us, the less they do. Actions based on desires to impress others usually only have the opposite effect as well as undermining our integrity. Genuine respect grows from authentic presence and genuine activity, not from advertising credentials and position. Bragging only invites disdain and envy. History mainly honors the results of struggle and integrity, not the outward trappings of unearned circumstance.

True confidence and self-satisfaction may look similar on the surface; but, in reality, they quickly become opposites. Ignorance and complacency become a solid foundation for self-satisfaction and can make us temporarily feel better—until it ruins our reputation. Instead of believing our distorted, personal propaganda, we can view our self-assessments with skepticism. Misfortunes and difficulties don't surprise someone who has already anticipated them. But empty self-satisfaction only increases folly ruining our endeavors and undermining our efforts.

We all have different and different degrees of strengths and weaknesses. When we only rely on our personal qualities, we do well in some areas but fail in others. In collaborations, we can focus on our strengths and rely on team members who are strong in areas we remain weak. By joining extremes—the cautious with the impulsive, the impatient with the plodding, the creative with the conservative—we can find the golden, middle way. The ability to agree with and appreciate people with very different qualities increases cultural goodness, makes the world more beautiful, and brings greatness to leaders.

A common corruption of power brings a critical, condemning approach to every situation and person. Exaggerated accusations and too much focus on the negative pushes everything to extremes, condemns every action, depresses every person, and can turn a paradise into a prison. A noble nature, on the other hand, searches out successes rather than failures, shuns fault and blame, looks for excusing circumstances—mitigating motivations, and praises good intentions even when they fail.

Leave things before they leave you, break the mirror and find a new one before it starts reflecting failure. Know when your ability stops meeting the task, when the racehorse needs to stop racing, when your actions can no longer match your reputation. Pass on the power, the influence, the knowledge to others who can carry them forward with increasing skills rather than your diminishing ones. Like the sun going behind clouds as it sets leaving only the memory of its brightness, pull another victory out of the claws of entropy, old age, and death.

Close friends become like one soul in two bodies; your shared values and goals flow through accomplishing much more than you could do alone. Our social value depends on public opinion that depends on the goodwill generated by either the service and friendliness we extend to others or the enmity of enemies. Each day search for a new friendship or at least more relationships that wish us well. In this pursuit, there is no magic like an unexpected good turn, an understanding word in a difficult conversation, an unasked for support.

The power of goodwill can surpass ability, intelligence and qualities like diligence, courage, honesty, and education. Without it, even the most skilled find a difficult path to success. With goodwill, however, we gain support from many, their respect, and patronage. They don't see our defects because they don't look for them. Many—to their detriment—prioritize merit over grace and, losing goodwill, invite failure instead of accomplishment. Goodwill easily arises from kindness, empathy, and common interest. It requires effort to gain; but, once earned, naturally endures and gains momentum.

Don't let prosperity seduce you into complacency. When good luck, progress, and success flourish; don't indulge in frivolous spending, taking people and positions for granted. Instead, acknowledge the possibilities for sudden change, reversals, and unexpected declines. Store your harvests in the summer and fall; don't expect these opportunities in the winter. Fame and fortune magnetize friends and favors best reserved for times of adversity when their support becomes much more expensive or not available at all. The foolish seldom have allies because when in luck, we don't recognized them and when in adversity, they don't recognize us.

Better to never compete. Most competition begins with belittling an opponent and looks for support and ammunition everywhere it can—not only where it should. And this abuse easily escalates into a hatred and revenge that seeks out and reveals old failings, damages reputations, and spotlights old scandals. While good manners and courtesy puts up with and excuses mistakes and misconduct, competition invents and exaggerates them. The competitive seldom find success with their strategies of insult, libel, and slander; normally, it only harms their cause and their reputation—while doing little to stop or slow their aggression. People with goodwill live in peace and people with integrity have goodwill.

Frequently, the people circumstances force us to deal with become the ones we would prefer to stay as far away from as possible. A quandary arises between what we need and what we detest. Tolerating unavoidable irritations and failings from those we depend on often determines our success in life. Achievement and success grants the luxury of avoiding these encounters; but, when in a subordinate position, we lack this choice. Best therefore to gradually get used to and learn to tolerate people like this before they trigger in us a reaction that undermines our position.

The disgraced and dishonorable have little respect for honesty and virtue. With a bad reputation, they have little to lose. Crossed ethical and legal boundaries become much easier to cross again. Much better to avoid the dishonorable as much as possible and to only associate with the trustworthy, with those true to their word. The honorable treat even rivals and adversaries better than the dishonorable treat their "friends."

Culture grows from the ground of courtesy, manners, and politeness. These qualities win regard and affection, cost little, gain a great deal, and bring honor. Discourtesy and rudeness, however, invite opposition, scorn, and even contempt. Too much politeness and indiscriminate courtesy though degenerates into superficial hypocrisy and can even bloat into injustice. Courtesy toward an enemy displays your integrity and may decrease aggression. Instead of being lost by being given away, gallantry and respect grow.

When we talk about ourselves, we normally either praise or criticize. The former communicates vanity and pride; the latter weak-minded lack of confidence. Both discredit reputations, sabotage projects, and make the people listening uncomfortable. Much better to never talk about ourselves—in personal conversations; and, even more importantly, if in a group or public setting. For similar reasons, also best to not talk about someone part of the group and listening.

Aversion arises easily enough, no need to encourage it. Without reason, many allow an innate distrust and animosity to distort their first impressions. They revel in dislike and let malevolence and revenge take precedence over their own material and psychological well being—they would rather hurt others than benefit themselves. We find esteem and respect from others when we see something to respect and esteem in them.