“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.”
— Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, ch. 33
What this quote means
The Taoist hierarchy of self-knowledge over outward conquest. Power directed inward — over one’s own impulses — is treated as higher than power over others, echoing wu wei’s preference for inner alignment over force.
The idea behind it
Wu Wei — The Taoist principle of "effortless action" — accomplishing things by aligning with the natural flow rather than forcing them.
Tao Te Ching is public domain; phrasing varies by translation. Confidence: high.