Tao Te Ching, 600 B.C. China
Stephen Mitchell, translator

If you want to be a leader…
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts,
and the world will govern itself.

The more prohibitions you have,
the less virtuous people will be.
The more weapons you have,
the less secure people will be.
The more subsidies you have,
the less self-reliant people will be.

Therefore the Master says:
I let go of the law,
and people become honest.
I let go of economics,
and people become prosperous.a
I let go of religion,
and people become serene.
I let go all desire for the common good,
and the good becomes common as grass.