Daodejing Chapter 33: know yourself

To know others is wisdom,
To know yourself is enlightenment.
To conquer others is power.
To conquer self is strength.
To know contentment is to possess wealth.
To persevere is to possess willpower.
Not to lose your foundation is to endure.
To die but to never vanish is longevity.

「知人者智，自知者明；勝人者有力，自勝者強；知足者富，強行者有志；不失其所者久，死而不亡者壽。」

While it is important to understand the thoughts and motivations of other people, it is even more critical to be aware of what makes you tick and your own strengths and weaknesses.

Having the honesty and resolve to overcome the weaknesses you identify is a huge challenge. How many times have you promised yourself that you will work harder, spend more time with your family and friends, or increase your exercise only to give up at the first hurdle? Conquering such frailties makes you truly strong.

Finding contentment in your life can be just as difficult. No matter where you look, there always seems to be someone happier, wealthier, and more successful than you are. At least on the surface! The key is to set the right path and have the courage and willpower to follow it through thick and thin.

Be true to yourself. People who try to be what they are not will be easily forgotten.

Note
I took this image at Longhu (Dragon Tiger) Mountain, a famous Daoist site about ten miles south of Yingtan in Jiangxi Province. A great place to visit!