"Why is the sea king of a..." - Quote by Lao Tzu
Why is the sea king of a hundred streams? Because it lies below them... If the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility. If he would lead them, he must follow behind. In this way when the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed.
More by Lao Tzu
“He does not seek power - yet people follow him.”
“The inner is the foundation of the outer. The still is master of the restless. The Sage travels all day yet never leaves his inner treasure.”
“The slaying of multitudes should be mourned with sorrow. A victory should be celebrated with the funeral rite.”
More on Leadership
“I came from the South and I know what war is, for I have seen its wreckage and terrible ruin. It is easy for me as President to declare war. I do not have to fight, and neither do the gentlemen on the Hill who now clamour for it. It is some poor farmer's boy, or son of some poor widow away off in some modest community, or perhaps the scion of a great family, who will have to do the fighting.”
“To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is to insult them without fear of consequences.”
“Too many leaders try to do a little bit of 25 things and get nothing done. They are very popular because they always say yes. But they get nothing done.”
More on Humility
“There have been many people for whom limitations, failure, loss, or pain in whatever form turned out to be their greatest teacher. It taught them to let go of false self-images and superficial ego-dictated goals and desires. It gave them depth, humility and compassion. It made them more real.”
“Admitting one's ignorance is the first step in acquiring knowledge.”
“The Master was entirely free from four things: prejudice, foregone conclusions, obstinacy, and egoism.”