The Old Philosopher's Canon of Reason and Virtue: 61. The Virtue of Humility

1. A great state, one that lowly flows, becomes the empire's union, and the empire's wife. 2. The wife always through quietude conquers her husband, and by quietude renders herself lowly. 3. Thus a great state through lowliness toward small states will conquer the small states, and small states through lowliness toward great states will conquer great states. 4. Therefore some render themselves p. 117 lowly for the purpose of conquering; others are lowly and therefore conquer. 5. A great state desires no more than to unite and feed the people; a small state desires no more than to devote itself to the service of the people; but that both may obtain their wishes, the greater one must stoop.