“Calm and repose are what he prizes; victory (by force of arms) is to him undesirable.”

“Do not conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance. Thorns spring up when an army passes. Years of misery follow a great victory. Do only what needs to be done without using violence.”

“If the force of arms is considered the only means of authority, it is not an auspicious instrument.”

“Therefore the sage desires what (other men) do not desire, and does not prize things difficult to get; he learns what (other men) do not learn, and turns back to what the multitude of men have passed by.”

“not to prize articles which are difficult to procure is the way to keep them from becoming thieves;”

“The slaying of multitudes should be mourned with sorrow. A victory should be celebrated with the funeral rite.”

“Knowing others is wisdom;Knowing the self is enlightenment.Mastering others requires force;Mastering the self requires strength;He who knows he has enough is rich.Perseverance is a sign of will power.”