A leader is best
when people barely know
that he exists,
not so good
when people obey
and acclaim him,
worst when they despise him.
“Fail to honor people,
they fail to honor you”;
but of a good leader,
who talks little,
when his work is done,
his aim fulfilled,
they will say
“we did this ourselves.”
In other words, when 200,000 people are on the streets of New York wanting your removal, a leader does not dismiss them, or disparage them, or ignore them, but ought wonder how to engage them, why they scorn him, and mourn the failure to bring them together under more favorable circumstances, so they feel their will is being done, and not being trampled.
