Makeup Quote for the Week II

He who knows how to guide a ruler in the path

of Tao

Does not try to override the world with force of arms.  

It is in the nature of a military weapon to turn against its

wielder.

Wherever armies are stationed, thorny bushes grow.

After a great war, bad years inevitably follow.

What you want is to protect efficiently your own state,

But not to aim at self-aggrandizement.

After you have attained your purpose,

You must not parade your success,

You must not boast of your ability, 

You must not feel proud, 

You must rather regret that you had not been able to

prevent the war.

You must never think of conquering others by force.

For to be over-developed is to hasten decay,

And this is against Tao,

And what is against Tao will soon cease to be.

–Tao Teh Ching, Chapter 30translated by John C. H. Wu