Victor H. Mair > Quotes

“       He places placidity above all                And refuses to prettify weapons;        If one prettifies weapons,                This is to delight in the killing of other..”
― Victor H. Mair, The Art of War: Sun Zi's Military Methods

“    The river and sea can be kings of                          the hundred valley streams                because they are good at lying below them. For this reason,     They can be kings of the hundred valley streams. For this reason, too,     If the sage wants to be above the people,                in his words, he must put himself below them;     If he wishes to be before the people,                in his person, he must stand behind them. Therefore,     He is situated in front of the people,                but they are not offended;     He is situated above the people,                but they do not consider him a burden.     All under heaven happily push him forward without                          wearying.     Is this not because he is without contention? Therefore,     No one under heaven can contend with him.”
― Victor H. Mair, Tao Te Ching: The Classic Book of Integrity and The Way