Lao Tzu on gentleness, thrift and not pushing to be first. From Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, about the 4th century BC.
In 288 BC, King Min of Qi, in eastern China, took a grander title than king: emperor of the east. Protests forced him to drop it. He went on to swallow the state of Song, and grew prouder still.
In 284 BC, his neighbors struck back together. His capital was sacked, and Min fled and was killed.
Chapter 67 of the Tao Te Ching names three treasures: gentleness, thrift, and not pushing to be first. Gentleness makes you brave, it says; thrift lets you give; holding back earns honor. King Min of Qi pushed to be first and lost everything in 284 BC. A century later, Emperor Wen of Han lived plainly and gently, and is remembered for it.
Be gentle, live plainly, and let others go first. Practical advice: this week, let someone else take the credit or the front seat once.
Likely, on the evidence · checked against 8 sourcesThis week, let someone else go first once, and notice what happens.
“I always push to be first at work, and it’s wearing me out. How do I ease off?”
Keep the Three Treasures and the other 11 ideas of Tao Te Ching, a minute at a time.
Download on theApp StoreEvery idea is drawn from the public-domain text, and its names, dates and quotes are checked against the sources listed with it. The paintings are made for Counsel; they show the scene, not a historical record.
