Best of Taoism – The lower and the higher

The lake is master of the river that runs into it. Why? Because the lake is lower and the river is higher; and that which is lower, is master of that which is higher.

The wise person, wanting to teach other people, talks to them from below. The wise person, wanting to guide other people, follows them.

So the wise person advises without cajoling, leads without forcing, educates without informing. The wise person never competes for attention for others, knowing that competition is always futile.

As a result, people never tire of listening to the wise person’s words, and praising the wise person’s insight.