1 If you are looking for fish in the abyss, it is better to retreat and build a net. ——Dong Zhongshu·"Countermeasures for Promoting Virtues in the Year of Yuanguang"

Better go back and make a net than long for the fish by merely staring into the water.

(Translated by Yin Bangyan )

2 Those who benefit the world will be enlightened by the world; those who harm the world will be closed by the world. ——"Six Tao·Fa Qi"

If you benefit the people of the world, you will attain their support. If you harm the people of the world, you will face their opposition.

(Translated by Nie Shuanglai)

3 As for a gentleman, he should be loyal when he thinks ahead and make amends for his mistakes when he retreats. ——"The Book of Filial Piety·Serving the King"

In serving his sovereign the man of the talent and virtue considers how to discharge his duty faithfully while in office; when he retires, he considers how to make up for his own errors.

(Translated by Liu Ruixiang and Lin Zhihe)

4 If you want to fight for the world, you must first fight for people. Those who know big numbers will win people; those who know small sums will lose people. ——"Guan Zi·Ba Yan"

Whoever competes for the authority over the world should compete for the support of the people. The most sensible persons will win over the people. The sharp-witted but petty-minded ones will lose the support of the people.

　(Translated by Zhai Jiangyue)

　5 If people want to see what they don’t see, they will see what others cannot see; if they want to get what they cannot get, they will cultivate what others do. No.

——"Liezi Zhongni"

If you want to see what you cannot see, you should watch with care what is neglected by others; if you want to get what is beyond your reach, you must do what others are unwilling to do.