Wisdom from the Tao Teh Ching

I occasionally like to wander through Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching".

Two passages always stand out to me.

By not exalting the talented you will cause the people to cease from rivalry and contention.
By not prizing goods hard to get, you will cause the people to cease from robbing and stealing.
By not displaying what is desirable, you will cause the people's hearts to remain undisturbed.

When I read this, I always think of Japan.
I see Japan as one of the least status-conscious of countries.
Though they like to buy designer names, it's in an effort to fit in with a fad; rather than to stand apart from the crowds.

And it does seem to leave them with 'undisturbed hearts'.

As for the second passage -

Wherever armies are stationed, thorny bushes grow.
After a great war, bad years invariably follow.

What you want is to protect efficiently your own state, but not to aim at self-aggrandisement.

After you have attained your purpose, you must not parade your success, you must not boast of your ability, you must not feel proud.
You must rather regret that you had not been able to prevent the war.

You must never think of conquering others by force. For to be
over-developed is to hasten decay,
And this is against Tao,

And what is against Tao will soon cease to be.

Hmmmm....
Written more than 2000 years ago...