Those without virtue are in charge of the taxes.
Tag: China
[64]
A high place one hundred, one thousand feet high begins from under your feet.
[63]
Plan for the difficult while it is easy;
Act on the large while it’s minute.
The most difficult things in the world begin as things that are easy;
The largest things in the world arise from the minute.
∞
Those who too lightly agree will necessarily be trusted by few;
And those who regard many things as easy will necessarily end up with many difficulties.
[42]
Thus, “The strong and violent do not come to a natural end.”
⋅ Nota Bene ⋅
(Or as the Poetic Edda put it: The cowardly man thinks he’ll live for ever, if he keeps away from fighting; but old age won’t grant him a truce even if spears spare him.)
9
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
∞
Care about people’s approval
and you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.
8
In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.
When you are content to be simply yourself
and don’t compare or compete,
everybody will respect you.
Book XI
21. The Master said, ‘Is one who simply sides with tenacious opinions a gentleman? or is he merely putting on a dignified appearance?’
Book VIII
9. The Master said, ‘The common people can be made to follow a path but not to understand it.’
Book VII
22. The Master said, ‘Even when walking in the company of two other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of the one I copy; the bad points of the other I correct in myself.’
∞
37. The Master said, ‘The gentleman is easy of mind, while the small man is always full of anxiety.’
Book VI
12. . . . The Master said, ‘A man whose strength gives out collapses along the course. In your case you set the limits beforehand.’
∞
19. The Master said, ‘That a man lives is because he is straight. That a man who dupes others survives is because he has been fortunate enought to be spared.’
Book V
5. ‘For a man quick with a retort there are frequent occassions on which he will incur the hatred of others.’
⋅ Nota Bene ⋅
(Poor Draco suffers from this. Well, and a terrible author.)
Book IV
7. The Master said, ‘In his errors a man is true to type. Observe the errors and you will know the man.’
∞
12. The Master said, ‘If one is guided by profit in one’s actions, one will incur much ill will.’
∞
16. The Master said, ‘The gentleman understands what is moral. The small man understands what is profitable.’
∞
22. The Master said, ‘In antiquity men were loath to speak. This was because they counted it shameful if their person failed to keep up with their words.’
Book II
3. The Master said, ‘Guide them by edicts, keep them in line with punishments, and the common people will stay out of trouble but will have no sense of shame. Guide them by virtue, keep them in line with the rites, and they will, besides having a sense of shame, reform themselves.’
∞
15. The Master said, ‘If one learns from others but does not think, one will be bewildered. If, on the other hand, one thinks but does not learn from others, one will be in peril.’
∞
17. The Master said, ‘Yu, shall I tell you what it is to know. To say you know when you know, and to say you do not when you do not, that is knowledge.’
∞
24. ‘Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.’
Book I
8. The Master said, ‘A gentleman who lacks gravity does not inspire awe. A gentleman who studies is unlikely to be inflexible.
‘Make it your guiding principle to do your best for others and to be trustworthy in what you say. Do not accept as friend anyone who is not as good as you.
‘When you make a mistake, do not be afraid of mending your ways.’
∞
16. The Master said, ‘It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.’
XII – The Attack by Fire
16. Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.
20. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content.
21. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.
XI – The Nine Situations
16. When the enemy’s men were scattered, they prevented them from concentrating; even when their forces were united, they managed to keep them in disorder.
19. Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy’s unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.
20. The following are the principles to be observed by an invading force: The further you penetrate into a country, the greater will be the solidarity of your troops, and thus the defenders will not prevail against you.
23. Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve.
24. Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If there is no place of refuge, they will stand firm.
26. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with supersitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.
32. The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.
X – Terrain
23. If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding.
24. The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.
25. Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.
26. If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder: then your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose.
31. Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.
IX – The Army on the March
41. He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.
42. If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, they will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be useless.
43. Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline. This is a certain road to victory.
45. If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.
VIII – Variation in Tactics
11. The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.
12. There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general:
(1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction;
(2) cowardice, which leads to capture;
(3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults;
(4) a delicacy of honour which is sensitive to shame;
(5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.
⋅ Nota Bene ⋅
(In other words, the only variable in life you can control is yourself. Also, today is the Spring Equinox! The night and day are equal today, and from today onwards days will start to get longer!)
VII – Manoeuvring
5. Manoeuvring with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.
12. We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbours.
21. Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.
33. It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.
35. Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy.
36. When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.
Hiraeth 