“The highest rulers, people do not know they have them1 The next level, people love them and praise them The next level, people fear them The next level, people despise them2 If the rulers’ trust is insufficient Have no trust in them Proceeding calmly, valuing their words Task accomplished, matter settled The people all say, “We did it naturally”3”
―
Lao Tzu,
Tao Te Ching: Annotated and Explained
