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Chapter Number | Content |
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39 | The oneness of life Without clarity, heaven would crack; Because the high is built on the foundation of the low, |
98 | The most practical skills involve disguising intentions. Imitate the inky cuttlefish to hide your cards, to keep your passions unknown, to conceal even your tastes. The more obvious your goals, the more easily rivals can subvert them or use them to manipulate. Defend your aspirations by balancing caution and reserve against malicious curiosity and competition. This helps avoid both backbiting and flattery. |
35 | The most foolish fail because of not thinking things through at all. The less but still foolish think about their lives and goals but lose focus and easily get distracted by the superficial but flashy, by the unimportant but entertaining. The wise quickly recognize the consequential, see which courses of action lead to gain and which to loss, and prioritize their most diligent concentration and highest skill to the most important issues. For most however, "common sense is not so common" and they never lose their common sense because they didn't have any to lose. They make a big deal about things that don't matter and ignore the most important issues. The wise apprehend life's hidden and obscure treasures, deeply root them in their minds, and apply their most diligent and focused attention. |
106 | 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. |
85 | The more exceptional your success, the more important to hide it. The more light a torch gives out, the quicker it burns away. The more diverse and accomplished the skills and the more success; the more envy, competition, and ill-will engendered. Many believe that bragging about success and flaunting it brings approval and esteem; but instead, it more often only increases resentment. Avoid the limelight and over-familiarity; avoid the extremes of both jack-of-all-trades and incompetence. |
58 | The less a leader does and says, Misery lurks under good fortune, Happiness and misery alternate like the seasons: And so the wise become: |
127 | The highest praise goes to those who speak well about those who speak badly about them. Indulge in envy and die not once but every time the envied wins applause. The glory and success of rivals tortures the envious. A lasting fame for a rival creates an eternal punishment for the jealous. To be made unhappy by another's happiness creates one of life's greatest torments. Instead, disengage from competitive rivalries and focus on the positive, practical ways of finding success. |
38 | The highest goodness, The good the truly good do When those who act When we lose the Way, Opinion is the beginning of ignorance. For these reasons, |
45 | The greatest perfection seems flawed True straightness looks crooked, Still, it overcomes the active; |
21 | The foolish chase appearances From beginningless time, Without the Way, |
116 | 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." |
127 | The best plans undertaken at the wrong times fail. Beauty has its day; even wisdom fails when applied too early or too late, when it does too much or too little. This is why for most, nothing ever seems to work out well and others always seem to have the best luck. When the time is ripe, insight shines, lucky stars rise, and success becomes effortless. At such times, don't waste a moment or lose the smallest opportunity; seize the day. To discover these creative moments, take small steps to test the response and watch carefully. If roadblocks and unexpected problems quickly arise, quickly withdraw. If instead unanticipated good fortune appears, advance with haste. |
69 | The best military experts advise: Give an attacker no opponent - |
15 | The ancient sages of old Who can wait and use stillness Followers of the Way |
81 | Successes of ability and attainment become insipid when clung to and not forgotten. Conceptual identifications and cultural truisms easily become stale attachments that limit and blinder. The more something is heard, the less importance it holds. Semi-relevant "breaking news" easily overshadows much more important but older accounts. For these reasons, always work on reinventing yourself, your opinions, your fortunes. Like the sun, arise reborn each day, if possible each moment. |
51 | Success in life depends on making good decisions but often even the most intelligent and highly educated continually make choices that undermine their own happiness, accomplishments, and goals. Not intelligence, experience, or education assure good judgments. To be able to choose at all requires an objective and clear self-awareness. To make good choices requires an experiential understanding of cause and effect, an appreciation for the power of goodness, and a dedication to virtue. |
14 | Substance doesn't go far without a good appearance. Even the most just and reasonable cause falters with an unsavory presentation. A little charm and grace, however, opens almost every door, gilds and sweetens the truth, wins over people's hearts, adds beauty to old age itself, and can—with only a simple expression or tone—help us out of many difficult situations. The "how" of the way things are done can be as important or more important than if they are done not. |
127 | Study people with as much attention and time as you would study an important book. Instead of accepting the polished surface, look deeper into the more rough-cut reality. As with buying a product, better to be cheated by the price than by the quality. But with merchandise, it's much easier to ascertain the truth. Understanding people to this degree requires a very open mind as well as discipline and penetrating intelligence. |
19 | Stop trying to be kind and just – |
20 | Stop always cramming more and more information into your head When people get what they want, Fools accumulate more and more but never have enough. The foolish stay busy, settle into habits and endlessly chase goals. |