Lead Like A River

“The reason why rivers and seas receive the homage of a hundred mountain streams is that they keep below them.

“Thus they are able to reign over all the mountain streams. So the sage, wishing to be above men, putteth himself below them; wishing to be before them, he putteth himself behind them. Thus, though his place be above men, they do not feel his weight; though his place be before them, they do not count it an injury.”

— Lao-tse, Chinese sage, from How To Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie