Assume formlessness.
The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order.
$GOD mornin', everything changes.
Don't go past the mark you aimed for; in victory, learn when to stop.
In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat.
$GOD mornin', don't let success go to your head.
Never appear too perfect.
It's smart to occasionally display defects, & admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable.
$GOD mornin', only gods & the dead can seem perfect with impunity.
Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once.
$GOD mornin', play with appearances while honoring the past & providing a sense of familiarity.
Work on the hearts and minds of others.
$GOD mornin'... Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you, instead seduce others into wanting to move in your direction.
Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter.
Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual —the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoner of goodwill.
$GOD mornin', strike the source of trouble & scatter the sheep.
Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes.
$GOD mornin', establish your own name and identity by changing course & gain power by shining in your own way.
Despise the free lunch.
What is offered for free is dangerous-it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation.
$GOD mornin', what has worth is worth paying for.
Stir up waters to catch fish.
Anger & emotion are strategically counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective, but if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage.
$GOD mornin'.
Think as you like but behave like others.
$GOD mornin'... If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them.
Be royal in your own fashion: act like a king to be treated like one.
$GOD mornin', the way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated.