Wisdom from the Ancient

I have three treasures, well secured:
The first is compassion;
The second, moderation, never too much;
And third, I say that never would I once
Presume that I should be the whole world's chief.

Through compassion, one gains true courage;
Through moderation, one gains true abundance and strength;
And if our ambition can be only to serve,
Then we give our true talents time to emerge.

Bravado today knows no compassion;
Abundance we have, but without moderation;
And self-importance, always in a hurry,
Rushes head-long towards its own death.

The truly loving are the only invulnerable.
Love resists and conquers even death itself.
Heaven arms with compassion
Those whom it would not see perish.
-Lao Tzu