This is taken from the Tao Te Ching regarding the right conduct of a Sage:
The sage does not strive, tamper, or seek control (ch. 64). He does not endeavor to help life along (ch. 55), or use his heart-mind (xin) to “solve” or “figure out” life’s apparent knots and entanglements (ch. 55). He who will try to do something with the world will fail, he will actually ruin it.
They never make a display of themselves, (chs. 72, 22). They do not brag or boast, (chs. 22, 24) and they do not linger after their work is done (ch. 77). They leave no trace
Seekers see the sage as someone transparently open, without any cleverness at all and, yet, the seeker knows that the sage is obviously no one's fool! This is perhaps what is meant by the words: <The sage is anchored in peace and harmony>. But what the seeker actually sees is that while the sage is not particularly keen to offer any advice, he does so when asked, with a great deal of simplicity, confidence, and utter humility.
