The three treasures

"All in the world call me great ; but I resemble the unlikely. Now a man is great only because he resembles the unlikely. Did he resemble the likely, how lasting, indeed, would his mediocrity be! I have three treasures which I preserve and treasure. The first is called compassion. The second is called economy. The third is called not daring to come in the world to the front. The compassionate can be brave ; the economical can be generous ; those who dare not come to the front in the world can become perfect as chief vessels. Now, if people discard compassion and are brave; if they discard economy and are generous ; if they discard modesty and are ambitious, they will surely die. Now, the compassionate will in the attack be victorious, and in the defence firm. Heaven when about to save one will with compassion protect him."