210105 What I learned in my studies this morning

Today's Tao:

Whenever you advise rulers in the way of Tao,

Counsel them not to use force to conquer the universe. 

For this would only cause resistance. 

Thorn bushes spring up wherever the army has passed. 

Lean years follow in the wake of a great war. 

Just do what needs to be done. 

Never take advantage of power. 

Achieve results, But never glory in them. Achieve results, But never boast. 

Achieve results, But never be proud. Achieve results, Because this is the natural way. 

Achieve results, But not through violence.

Force is followed by loss of strength. 

This is not the way of the Tao. 

That which goes against the Tao Comes to an early end.

From The Daily Stoic: 

Know your goal. Knowing where you are going is not a guarantee you will get there, but not knowing is a guarantee you will not. Having a firm end in mind helps you decide on your course of action: what deserves your attention and what does not. 

From Eric Hoffer, Part III, Unifying Agents:

Hatred 

Hatred is the most powerful and ubiquitous of unifying agents among mass movements. A movement can exist, and even flourish, without a god, but without a devil, it will falter. You must have something to hate. 

(The True Believer, XIV-65)