THE TAO OF STRENGTH

THE SUPERPOWER OBSESSION is mostly an American idiosyncrasy, in terms of nationalism and cultural hegemony, at this point in time (Arabic-Islamic supremacism notwithstanding). Its only virtue is to lead, invariably, to recurrent absurd discussions.

"Do not try to override the world with force of arms...
It is in the nature of a military weapon to turn against its wielder.

To hold on to weakness is to be strong...

There is no calamity like not knowing what is enough.
There is no evil like covetousness.
Only he who knows what is enough will always have enough

To be over-developed is to hasten decay.
This is against Tao and what is against Tao will soon cease to exist.

It is Heaven's Way to conquer without striving...
To get responses without speaking...
To induce the people to come without summoning...
To act to plan without haste...

The Wise is self-effacing and scanty of words.
When his task is accomplished and things have been completed
All the people say, "We ourselves have achieved it!""

—Laozi

Needless to say, nothing could be less American than the above. Observers of China would be well-advised to remember the above; for in essence, it remains fundamentally Chinese.