“The people starve because those in authority over them devour too many taxes; that is why they starve.”

“The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors.”

“all streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. humility gives it its power. if you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. if you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them.”

“He whose (desires) are few gets them; he whose (desires) are many goes astray.”

“Those who possessed in highest degree the attributes (of the Tao) did not (seek) to show them, and therefore they possessed them (in fullest measure).”

“The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves.”

“Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them. Startwith what they know. Build with what they have. But with the bestleaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people willsay 'We have done this ourselves.”