Perfect Behavior and Perfect People

For my perfect, "hyper-appropriate", conformist, "humble" little cousin the last Great Squire of Putney, Vermont:

"Perfect behavior is born of complete indifference."

--Cesar Pavese

"The fool doth think he is wise but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."

--William Shakespeare


The Wisdom of Humility

The reason why the rivers and seas receive the homage
of a hundred mountain streams is that they keep below them.
Thus they are able to rein over all the mountain streams.

So the sage, wishing to be above men, putteth himself below them;
wishing to be before them, he putteth himself behind them.

Thus, though his place be above men, they do not feel his weight;
though his place be before them, they do not count it an injury.
--Lao Tzu


"Envy is a plant which should never be watered."
--Cosimo de Medici