Clay is moulded to make a vessel, but the utility of the vessel lies in the space where there is nothing. . . . Thus, taking advantage of what is, we recognize the utility of what is not.

Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habit.

Those who are right do not argue. Those who argue are not right.

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.

One who believes in himself has no need to convince others.

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

In order to eliminate the negative influences, simply ignore them.

Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results.

The leader is a teacher who succeeds without taking credit. And, because credit is not taken, credit is received.

Can you imagine the feeling of being an oppressed colonial being addressed respectfully by a colonizer in the mother country?

The world he thought he knew had become an odd thing, twisting time and purpose. But it had remained an unfair universe in the end.

There are certain persons for whom pure Truth is a poison.

I'm always amazed by the people who work on stage who sing night after night, day after day, week in week out.

To be a leader in this new economy, you have to love risk-which means patterning your life on the heroic, not on the strategic. Acting boldly is better than acting knowingly.

When you argue with your inferiors, you convince them of only one thing: they are as clever as you.

Any politician who tells you morality has nothing to do with the law and government is about to do something extremely immoral.

The black situation has changed. They finally realized they're Americans.

The most interesting painting is one that expresses more of what one thinks than of what one sees

The high road is always respected. Honesty and integrity are always rewarded.