When a country obtains great power,
it becomes like the sea:
all streams run downward into it.
The more powerful it grows,
the greater the need for humility.
Humility means trusting the Tao,
thus never needing to be defensive.
A great nation is like a great man:
When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.
Having realized it, He admits it.
Having admitted it, He corrects it.
He considers those who point out his faults,
as his most benevolent teachers.
He thinks of his enemy
as the shadow that he himself casts.
If a nation is centered in the Tao
if it nourishes its own people
and doesn’t meddle in the affairs of others,
It Will Be A Light to All Nations In The World
Lao Tzu – #61 Tao te Ching
Ascension Project 2012 